HOURS IN FACTORIES, 
Bb 
the Act for the grant of exemptions appear to us to be generally 
sound, but, if our recommendation relating to seasonal factories is 
accepted, it should be possible to curtail at once the somewhat long list 
of exempting provisions. It is a legitimate criticism of the present Act 
that it takes too little account of the differences between certain classes of 
factories, and one consequence of this defect is that, in some directions, 
it has to be unduly elastic. Further, if the hours of work are to be reduc- 
ed, the provisions governing payment of overtime might suitably be re- 
vised. Werecommend that, where work exceeds 54 hours in a week, pay- 
ment be required at not less than 1} times the normal rate, and that for 
work in excess of 60 hours. the minimum should be 1} times the normal 
rate 
Principles Governing Exemptions. 
It is, moreover, insufficient to set down criteria for the grant of 
exemptions; principles should be formulated for the application of 
these criteria. Hitherto, the Government of India have not been able 
to do more than make a few general recommendations at infrequent 
intervals. It is desirable that there should be more uniform standards 
for the grant of exemptions throughout India. Here we cannot do 
more than suggest certain broad guiding principles. The most im- 
portant of these is that exemptions should be given for specified 
and limited periods; these should in no case exceed three years, 
and should be shorter when possible. This will ensure that all ex- 
smptions are periodically reviewed. While a certain amount of latitude 
may reasonably be shown when further limitations on the hours of 
work are introduced (provided always that exemptions are limited 
to the abnormal), the aim should be steadily to tighten up the adminis- 
bration and to reduce exemptions to the smallest dimensions possible. 
A further principle to which we attach importance is that, if workers 
are compelled to work in circumstances which involve the grant of 
an exemption, they should, whenever possible, receive a benefit in a form 
balancing as closely as possible the deprivation involved in the 
exemption. Mere monetary compensation does not satisfy this 
condition; what we contemplate is that, where workers are required 
to work on the day of rest, they should receive an extra full holiday at an 
early date. We observe, for instance, that, at any rate in some provinces, 
workers appear to be deprived of weekly holidays almost as a matter of 
course in factories working continuous processes, although fortnightly 
holidays are generally secured. We do not regard the difficulty of pro- 
viding for relieving shifts once a week, instead of once a fortnight, as suffi- 
cient justification for demanding so many consecutive days of work. 
If, however, it is not practicable to give weekly rest days, two rest 
days should be required at the end of the fortnight or failing this either 
a continuous period of rest of 24 hours once a week or of 48 hours once a 
fortnight. Similar principles can be applied where overtime work is 
demanded. We desire to add that in future the 60 hour week should 
be regarded as a limit which is to be exceeded only in most exceptional 
clrcumstances.