The Factories Act, 1948 — India law | Esheria

The Factories Act, 1948

This part sets the Act’s title, scope, commencement, key definitions, and core factory administration powers and duties.

Jurisdiction
India
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
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annual leave factory inspections factory operations factory regulation factory safety factory welfare inspection confidentiality machinery safety overtime pay registration and licensing reporting accidents and diseases rest breaks rulemaking safety compliance shift scheduling women and young persons worker leave wages workplace health workplace health and safety

Statute overview

About this statute

This part sets the Act’s title, scope, commencement, key definitions, and core factory administration powers and duties. Factories must follow numerous safety rules for machinery, fire protection, hazardous processes, and worker welfare; some violations carry fines. Factories must provide worker welfare facilities, limit working hours, pay overtime, restrict child and women’s work, and keep required notices and registers. Workers on leave are entitled to leave wages, and factories have reporting, inspection, safety, and penalty rules. The State Government can make rules, and the Central Government can issue directions. Rules must be published in the Official Gazette, follow previous publication, and State Government rules must be laid before the State Legislature. Inspectors must keep complaint sources confidential and must not disclose certain business information; violations can be punished with up to 6 months’ imprisonment, a fine up to 1,000 rupees, or both.

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