Factories Act 1948 — Health, Safety aur Employee Rights Complete Guide

Factories Act Kya Hai Aur Kise Cover Karta Hai?

Factories Act 1948 manufacturing units mein kaam karne wale workers ke health, safety, welfare aur working conditions regulate karta tha — 21 November 2025 se OSH Code 2020 ne isko subsumed kar liya hai, provisions largely carried over. Yeh act Ministry of Labour & Employment ke under aata hai aur har state government ke Factories Inspector Office is act ko enforce karta hai.

Important 2026 update: Factories Act 1948 ab repealed hai — 21 November 2025 se Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code 2020 iski jagah lagu hai (savings ke saath — purane rules tab tak valid jab tak naye notify na hon). OSH Code mein factory threshold badh gaya hai: power use ho toh 20 ya zyada workers, power nahi ho toh 40 ya zyada workers (Factories Act mein 10/20 tha). Hazardous activity establishments ke liye koi minimum limit nahi — ek bhi worker ho toh Code apply hota hai. Working hours (48/week), rest interval, earned leave jaise core provisions same continue hote hain.

Agar aap किसी garment unit, automobile plant, pharmaceutical company, food processing unit ya kisi bhi manufacturing facility mein kaam karte hain aur wahan sufficient number of workers hain — toh Factories Act ki protections aapko milti hain, chahe aap permanent ho ya contract worker.

Working Hours — Kitna Kaam Karwa Sakte Hain?

Factories Act Section 51 ke under maximum 48 hours per week kaam karwa sakte hain. Daily limit 9 hours hai. Ek shift mein 5 ghante se zyada kaam karwane par koi bhi worker ko rest interval milna chahiye.

Weekly holiday bhi mandatory hai — generally Sunday. Agar kisi week kaam karwaya gaya toh compensatory off milna chahiye. Manager ya supervisor ka direct order bhi is limit ke baad nahi chalta — yeh legal right hai.

Limit	Hours	Section
Daily maximum	9 hours	Section 54
Weekly maximum	48 hours	Section 51
Spread over (total time in factory)	10.5 hours max	Section 56
Weekly off	1 day (Sunday)	Section 52
Overtime limit	50 hrs/quarter (75 in some states)	Section 64

Overtime — Double Pay Milna Chahiye

Section 59 ke under — agar aap 9 hours/day ya 48 hours/week se zyada kaam karte hain — toh aapko double the ordinary rate of wages milna chahiye. Yeh "overtime" hai aur yeh sirf "extra time" nahi hai — legally double pay hai.

Overtime ke liye register maintain karna manager ki duty hai. Agar double pay nahi de rahe toh yeh Factories Act ka violation hai aur inspector ko complaint kar sakte hain. Kuch factories "compensatory off" offer karte hain overtime ki jagah — yeh Act ke under valid nahi hai unless state specifically allow karta ho.

Annual Leave — Earned Leave Ka Hisaab

Section 79 ke under, ek factory worker ko har 20 din kaam karne par 1 din ki earned leave milti hai (adult workers ke liye). Yeh means approximately 15-20 working days/year. 18 saal se kam workers (young persons) ke liye 15 din kaam par 1 din leave milti hai.

• Leave carry forward kar sakte hain — maximum 30 days accumulate kar sakte hain (adult workers)
• Leave ke badle cash payment — agar leave lene nahi diya toh leave encashment milna chahiye
• Leave application deny karne ke liye employer ko valid reason dena hoga
• Sick leave aur casual leave is earned leave se alag hoti hai — company policy ke hisaab se

Health Provisions — Clean aur Safe Environment Ka Right

Chapter III (Sections 11–20) health provisions cover karta hai. Kuch mandatory requirements hain:

• Cleanliness: Factory premises, passages, floors — regular cleaning compulsory
• Ventilation: Adequate fresh air aur temperature control — excessive heat nahi chalega
• Lighting: Natural ya artificial — proper illumination mandatory in all workrooms
• Drinking water: Clean, sufficient aur marked drinking water — 6 meters of latrines se door
• Latrines aur urinals: Separate for men and women, ratio 1:25 workers
• Spittoons: Clean aur adequate number — workers ko wahan hi thookne ki allowed

Safety Provisions — Machinery aur Hazard Protection

Chapter IV (Sections 21–41) safety provisions cover karta hai. Key rights:

• Fencing of machinery: Dangerous moving parts guard/fenced hone chahiye — exposed rotating parts ke paas jaana unsafe hai
• Lifting machines: Cranes, hoists — regular testing aur valid certificate mandatory
• Pressure vessels: Boilers — licensed aur regularly inspected
• Dangerous fumes/gases: Workers ko PPE (gloves, masks, goggles) dena employer ki duty hai
• Explosive/inflammable materials: Special precautions — smoking prohibition areas, fire extinguishers

Agar employer safety equipment nahi deta ya unsafe condition mein kaam karwata hai — toh yeh violation hai. Worker ko kaam refuse karne ka right hai agar life ko immediate threat ho.

Women Workers — Special Protections

Factories Act women workers ke liye specific provisions rakhta hai:

• Night shift prohibition: Women ko 6 AM se 7 PM ke baad factory mein kaam nahi karwa sakte — unless state government ne specific exemption di ho aur security measures in place ho
• Crèche: 30 ya zyada women workers hain toh factory mein crèche (childcare facility) mandatory hai — 6 saal se kam age ke children ke liye
• No hazardous work: Women ko certain dangerous/heavy machinery operate nahi karwa sakte

Complaint Kaise Karein — Inspector Ka Role

Har state mein Factory Inspector (or Inspector of Factories) hota hai — yeh government officer hai jo factories ka inspection karta hai aur violations ke liye penalties lagata hai.

Agar aapki factory mein Act ka violation ho raha hai toh:

1. State Labour Department ka website check karo — inspector ka contact number milega
2. Complaint written mein do — apna naam, factory name, violation describe karo
3. Anonymous complaint bhi ho sakti hai — inspector ko naam reveal karna compulsory nahi
4. Inspector physical visit karega factory ko, records check karega
5. Employer par fine aur prosecution ho sakta hai Section 92 ke under