Policy to provide funds for making workplaces safe

The present UPA government will have to its credit three labour-related policies when it exits from power. Having given finishing touches to the skill development policy and an employment policy for the first time after Independence, it is pushing a third policy for Cabinet approval.

The draft for this policy, dealing with occupational health and safety at workplace, envisages creation of a National Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace Fund and establishing suitable schemes for subsidy and provision of loans to enable effective implementation of the policy.

The policy also asks for a suitable accreditation machinery to recognise institutions, professionals and services related to safety, health and environment at workplace.

A number of labour laws have provisions for ensuring safety at workplaces, like the Factories Act, the Mines Act, the Dock Workers Act, the Building and Construction Workers Act and the ESI Act, but this policy is expected to focus on the subject through a separate fund for the purpose.

The labour ministry, which inherited the draft policy from the previous government, had prepared it in 2002, but finalized the draft as late as August this year.

With accidents in the country’s booming infrastructure sector rising, along with numerous deaths and illnesses due to exposure to hazardous chemicals and processes, the policy is expected to provide more focus to workers’ safety.

According to the policy, all matters concerning workplace safety should be monitored jointly by the employers and employees.

The policy sees itself reaching out to the smallest enterprises, including home-based units. It will enable the SMEs to receive financial assistance and loans for purchases of new and safer machines and renovation of workplaces to create a healthier working environment.

It will also provide for tax rebates for purchase of safer machines, equipment and processes. Besides, it provides for a mechanism to accredit competent professionals and institutions to provide qualitative services to all occupations.

The ministry said that the implementation of the policy would enable timely compilation and analyses of data on work-related injuries and diseases for qualitative decision-making at the national level.

But the trade unions are cynical. The Hind Mazdoor Sangh (HMS) said that the implementation of the policy would be the real test of its efficacy. “India has some fine laws. It fails only in implementation,” a union leader said.