Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1850495947

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-233603

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: His Majesty's Stationery Off.

Year of publication:: 1931

Scope:: xviii, 580 S.; graph. Darst., Kt.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter V. - Working conditions in factories

Collection:: Economics Books

53 CHAPTER V.—WORKING CONDITIONS IN FACTORIES. We discuss in this chapter the remaining questions of import- ance in connection with working conditions in perennial factories, After dealing with the health, safety and welfare of operatives and the protection afforded to them in respect of these matters by official regula- tion, we review the general administration of the Factories Act. I. HEALTH. Dust and Dirt. In a number of factories the manufacturing processes dissemi- hate large amounts of dust, arrangements for the elimination of which are frequently defective. Mechanical systems which result in a constant flow of fresh air would add greatly to the comfort of the operative, and would in some cases improve his output. More important is the con- servation of the workers’ health, for the prevalence of dust may result in pulmonary disease. * In certain manufacturing processes, particularly connected with cotton, jute and wool, the reduction of dust to a minimum should be made obligatory. Section 10 of the Factories Act confers ample powers on Inspectors of Factories in this respect and these should be more extensively used. More attention should also be paid to the general cleanliness of factories. Where quantities of dust and fluff are produced, it is important that floors and walls should be regularly cleaned. Periodic white-washing of the interior walls and roofs not only removes collected dust, but helps to improve the lighting. It is diffi- cult to associate efficiency with the grime to be found in some factories. We recommend that, where the rules made by the local Government under Section 37 of the Act do not require the cleaning of factories annually, they should be supplemented in this direction, and that in all cases such rules should be strictly enforced. Sanitation. Under the Factories Act, the provision of sufficient and suitable latrine accommodation is compulsory and local Governments have drawn up scales for latrines varying with the number of operatives. Latrine accommodation is not always adequate, and its quality often leaves much to be desired. Tt is commonly asserted that the Indian labourer, coming as he often does from g village, is unwilling to use sanitary conveniences. Our observations have convinced us that he can be brought to use them without serious difficulty, provided that they are kept in decent order. He rightly refuses to use a latrine whose condition, by the very nature of its construction and supervision, is always filthy. The popularity of the efficient septic tanks, which are a feature of the Bengal jute mills, is only one item of evidence in this direction, This system is to be recommended for areas where the water supply is sufficient. Where the supply cannot be made adequate, recourse must be had to other methods; but every factory should be compelled to maintain separate and sufficient accommodation for males and females, and a staff adequate to maintain the latrines in a state of cleanliness during working hours.

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