From a broader perspective welfare includes each and everything done for the improvement of employees and is provided over and above the wages. It helps in maintaining the morale and motivation of employees at office and acts as a tool for retaining employees for a longer duration. It is not at all necessary that employee welfare needs to be in monetary terms it can be non-monetary too and can be in any form. Employee welfare includes monitoring of working conditions, creation of industrial harmony through infrastructure for health, industrial relations and insurance against disease, accident and unemployment for the workers and their families.
The common benefits that adhere to employees by way employee welfare measures undertaken by employees are as follows:-
To provide better life and health to the workers
To make the workers happy and satisfied
To relieve workers from industrial fatigue and to improve intellectual, cultural and material conditions of living of the workers
Employee welfare includes various facilities, services and amenities provided to workers for improving their health, efficiency, economic betterment and social status.
Flexible Labor welfare schemes
Welfare measures can be introduced by the employers, government, employees or by any social or charitable agency.
The purpose is to bring development of the personality of the workers to make a better workforce also to raise their standard of living as well as to provide better employment life and health to workers, reduce stress situations, improve intellectual, cultural and materials conditions,
The result is increase in productivity of employees at work
The welfare measures are not rigid whereas it all depends on work ethics and the officer in charge of the welfare schemes.
The important welfare measures can be detained as follows: [/b][/b]
Housing schemes, medical benefits, education and recreation facilities for workers’ families help in raising their standards of living.
There are statutory and non-statutory welfare schemes.
Under the Factories Act and Rules, Dock worker’s Act, Mines Act etc there are certain provisions on Welfare. These are to be complied with failing which legal proceedings will be initiated against the employer. Even appointment of Labor Welfare Officer where more than 500 workers are employed is statutory requirement. Section 49 of the factories act provides that in every factory wherein 500 or more workers are ordinarily employed the employer shall appoint at least one welfare officer.
STATUTORY WELFARE SCHEMES
The statutory welfare schemes include the following provisions:
1. Drinking Water: 2. Facilities for sitting: 3. First aid appliances: 4. Latrines and Urinals:
5. Canteen facilities: 6. Spittoons: 7. lighting: 8. Washing places: 9. changing rooms:
10. Rest rooms etc
NON STATUTORY SCHEMES
Housing, recreation facilities, and all that one can imagine can be extended to the workers under welfare scheme. Some industries provide schools and college, sports clubs and teams of their own, scholarships for employees’ children etc. all aimed at one thing keep the employee and get their work done. It seems employee welfare schemes proves beneficial for both the employer and the employee, helpfull for all.