CHAPTER V,

now general in its content and application, there should be a statutory
method by which local Governments can secure a uniform minimum
standard of welfare where the nature of the processes carried on or the
special conditions and circumstances of employment demand it.
Welfare Orders.

In this regard we have been impressed by the value of the
Welfare Orders made by the Factory Inspection Department of the Home
Office in Great Britain under Section 7 of the Police, Factories and Mis-
cellaneous Provisions Act of 1916. These Orders have increased the
happiness and well-being of the workers in the industries affected,
while securing and retaining the co-operation and goodwill of the em-
ployers. We therefore recommend that local Governments be empowered
under the Factories Act to issue Welfare Orders to classes or groups
of factories where, as already indicated, the circumstances warrant.
At this stage we do not wish to set out in detail what is to be comprised
in the term “welfare ”’, but would leave this to the Central Government
in drawing up the necessary amendment of the Act. The type of welfare
we have in mind covers such matters as washing facilities, ambulance
and first-aid requirements, arrangements for taking meals and allied
matters, with a few of which we proceed to deal in greater detail. We
further advocate that, in the event of any dispute as to the reasonableness
of the requirements set out in the draft Order, there should be authority
for the matter to be laid before a Referee selected aceording to rules
made under the Act. We contemplate that resort to such action will be a
rare occurrence, as we visualise the passing of Welfare Orders by
local Governments only after discussion of the matters contained therein
between the Chief Inspector of Factories and representatives of the
industries affected, and, as a result, the reaching of a large measure of
agreement before the Orders are finally issued. Such Orders would be
administered by the factory inspectors in the course of their ordinary
duties and it would also be through them that the initial researches,
prior to the drawing up of the draft Orders, would be made by the Chief
Inspector of Factories with the consent and approval of the local Govern-
ment.
First Aid.
In some provinces the larger factories are required by rules made
under the Factories Act to maintain first-aid appliances, but the practice
is by no means generally enforced, even in the larger factories. We
recommend that, in the case of all factories where mechanical power is
used, a first-aid box of prescribed standard, which need not involve any
great outlay, should be provided and maintained in proper condition in an
accessible place and that, in the larger factories employing 250 or more
persons, additional boxes be maintained in the different departments
according to the number of workers employed, on a basis to be laid down
by local Governments. Steps should be taken to ensure that there
are persons on the staffs of the different departments in every large factory
capable of utilising the appliances in the proper manner in case of need.