The Factories Act
The Factories Act, 1948 is a social legislation which has been enacted for occupational safety, health and welfare of workers at work places. The objective of the Act is to regulate the conditions of work in manufacturing establishments coming within the definition of the term 'factory' as used in the Act.
As per the Factories Act, 1948, a factory needs to obtain a Building Plan Approval from the Labour and Employment Department before applying for a factory registration. Under the Factories Act, 1948, registration and renewal of factory licenses are also done to ensure the safety of workers. The Department maintains the record of each factory satisfying the conditions of the Factories Act, 1948 regarding their workers, power consumptions, chemical usages and accepts returns that fall under various acts from those companies on a periodical basis.
Factories Act, 1948 is formulated with the aim of ensuring the working conditions in factories, to regulate health, safety welfare, and annual leave and to enact a particular provision with respect to persons who work in factories.
The Act is applicable to all the factories including State, and Central Government, to the premises wherein: -
- Workers employed exceed state specified threshold, with or without use of power and engaged in manufacturing activities
- Less than the threshold workers, if activity is notified by the State Government
- The Occupier & Manager of the factory has prime responsibility to prepare, maintain and file all the necessary applicable compliance registers, returns and other documents as stipulated under the Central and State Rules, to the controlling authority within the due dates at prescribed intervals.