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THE FACTORIES ACT, 1934
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
2. Definitions
3. References to time of day
4. Seasonal factories
5. Power to apply provisions applicable to factories to certain other places
6. Power to declare departments to be separate factories
7. Power to exempt on a change in the factory
7A. Exemption from certain provisions of the Act
8. Power to exempt during public emergency
9. Notice to Inspector before commencement of work
CHAPTER II
THE INSPECTING STAFF
10. Inspectors
11. Powers of Inspector
12. Certifying surgeons
CHAPTER III
HEALTH AND SAFETY
13. Cleanliness
14. Disposal of wastes and effluents
15. Ventilation and temperature
Page 1 of 44
16. Dust and fume
17. Artificial humidification
18. Overcrowding
19. Lighting
20. Drinking water
21. Latrines and urinals
22. Spittoons
23. Precaution against contagious or infectious disease
23A. Compulsory vaccination and inoculation
24. Power to make rules for the provision of canteens
24A. Welfare Officer
25. Precautions in case of fire
26. Fencing of machinery
27. Work on or near machinery in motion
28. Employment of young persons on dangerous machines
29. Striking gear and devices for cutting off power
30. Self-acting machines
31. Casing of new machinery
32. Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton openers
33. Cranes and other lifting machinery
33A. Hoists and lifts
33B. Revolving machinery
33C. Pressure plant
33D. Floors, stairs and means of access
33E. Pits, sumps, opening in floors, etc.
33F. Excessive weights
Page 2 of 44
33G. Protection of eyes
33H. Powers to require specifications of defective parts or tests of stability
33I. Safety of building, machinery and manufacturing process
33J. Power to make rules to supplement this Chapter
33K. Precautions against dangerous fumes
33L. Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc.
33M. Power to exclude children
33N. Notice of certain accident
33P. Appeals
33Q. Additional power to make health and safety rules relating to shelters during rest
CHAPTER IV
RESTRICTIONS ON WORKING HOURS OF ADULTS
34. Weekly hours
35. Weekly holiday
35A. Compensatory holidays
36. Daily hours
37. Intervals for rest
38. Spread over
39. Notice of periods for Work for Adults and preparation thereof
40. Copy of Notice of Periods for Work to be sent to Inspector
41. Register of Adult Workers
42. Hours of work to correspond with Notice under section 39 and Register under section 41
43. Power to make rules exempting from restrictions
44. Power to make orders exempting from restrictions
45. Further restrictions on the employment of women
46. Special provision for night-shifts
47. Extra pay for overtime
Page 3 of 44
48. Restriction on double employment
49. Control of overlapping shifts
CHAPTER IVA
HOLIDAYS WITH PAY
49A. Application of Chapter
49B. Annual holidays
49C. Pay during annual holidays
49D. Payment when to be made
49E. Power of Inspector to act for worker
49F. Power to make rules
49G. Exemption of factories from the provisions of this Chapter
49H. Casual leave and sick leave
49I. Festival holidays
CHAPTER V
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN
50. Prohibition of employment of young children
51. Non-adult workers to carry tokens giving reference to certificates of fitness
52. Certificates of fitness
53. Effect of certificate granted to adolescent
54. Restrictions on the working hours of a child
55. Notice of Periods for Work for Children
56. Register of Child Workers
57. Hours of work to correspond with Notice and Register
58. Power to require medical examination
59. Power to make rules
59A. Provisions to be in addition to Act XXVI of 1938
Page 4 of 44
CHAPTER VI
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
60. Penalty for contraventions of Act and rules
61. Enhanced penalty in certain cases after previous conviction
62. Penalty for failure to give notice of commencement of work or of change of manager
63. Penalty for obstructing Inspector
64. Penalty for failure to give notice of accidents
65. Penalty for failure to make returns
66. Penalty for smoking or using naked light in vicinity of inflammable material
67. Penalty for using false certificate
68. Penalty on guardian for permitting double employment of a child
69. Penalty for failure to display certain notices
70 Determination of “occupier” for purposes of this Chapter
71. Exemption of occupier or manager from liability in certain cases
72. Presumption as to employment
73. Evidence as to age
74. Cognizance of offences
75. Limitation of prosecutions
CHAPTER VII
SUPPLEMENTAL
76 Display of factory notices
77. Power of Provincial Government to make rules
78. [Repealed.]
79. Publication of rules
80. Application to Government factories
81. Protection to persons acting under this Act
82. [Repealed.]
[Repealed.]
Page 5 of 44
THE FACTORIES ACT, 1934
1
ACT NO. XXV OF 1934
[20th August, 1934]
An Act to consolidate and amend the law regulating labour in factories.
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law regulating labour in factories ;
It is hereby enacted as follows :___
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.___(1) This Act may be called the Factories Act,
1934.
2
[(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.]
(3) It shall come into force on the 1st day of January, 1935.
2. Definitions.___In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,___
(a) “adolescent” means a person who has completed his fifteenth but has not
completed his seventeenth year ;
(b) “adult” means a person who has completed his seventeenth year ;
(c) “child” means a person who has not completed his fifteenth year ;
(d) “day” means a period of twenty-four hours beginning at midnight ;
(e) “week” means a period of seven days beginning at midnight on Saturday night ;
(f) “power” means electrical energy, and any other form of energy which is
mechanically transmitted and is not generated by human or animal agency ;
1
The Act has been applied to Phulera in the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal to the extent the Act is applicable in the N.W.F.P., subject to certain
modifications, see N.W.F.P. (Upper Tanawal) (Excluded Area) Laws Regulation, 1950, and extended to the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal (N.W.F.P.)
other than Phulera with effect from such date and subject to such modifications as may be notified, see N.W.F.P. (Upper Tanawal) (Excluded Area) Laws
Regulation, 1950.
The Act in its application in the Punjab has been amended by Factories (Punjab Amdt.) Act, 1940 (Punjab 7 of 1940), in N.W.F.P., by the Factories (North-
West Frontier Province Amdt.) Act, 1940 (N.W.F.P.7 of 1947),
___
This Act has been extended to the
(i) Leased Areas of Baluchistan, see the Leased Areas (Laws) Order, 1950 (G.G.O.3 of 1950); and also applied in the Federated Areas of Baluchistan, see
Gazette of India, 1937, Pt.I, p.1499;
(ii) Baluchistan States Union, see the Baluchistan States Union (Federal Laws) (Extension) Order, 1953 (G.G.O.4 of 1953), as amended;
(iii) Khairpur State, see G.G.O.5 of 1953, as amended; and
(iv) State of Bahawalpur by the Bahawalpur (Extension of Federal Laws) Order, 1953 (G.G.O.11 of 1953), as amended.
The Act has been and shall be deemed to have been brought into force in Gwadur, (w. e. f. the 18th September, 1958), by the Gwadur (Application of
Central Laws) Ordinance, 1960 (37 of 1960),s.2
The Act has been applied to the Provincially Administrated Tribal Areas or to the parts or those areas to which it does not already, apply see Regulation
No. I of 1972, s.2 and Sch.
2
Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (Ordinance No. XXI of 1960), s.3 and Sch. 2., (w. e. f. the 14th October, 1955).
Page 6 of 44
(g) “manufacturing process” means any process___
(i) for making, altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing or packing, or
otherwise treating any article or substance with a view to its use, sale,
transport, delivery or disposal, or
(ii) for pumping oil, water or sewage, or
(iii) for generating, transforming or transmitting power ;
(h) “worker” means a person employed 1[directly or through an agency], whether
for wages or not, in any manufacturing process, or in cleaning any part of the
machinery or premises used for a manufacturing process, or in any other kind
of work whatsoever incidental to or connected with the manufacturing process
or connected with the subject of the manufacturing process, but does not include
any person solely employed in a clerical capacity in any room or place where
no manufacturing process is being carried on ;
(j) “factory” means any premises including the precincts thereof whereon 1[ten] or
more workers are working, or were working on any day of the preceding twelve
months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on
1
[or is ordinarily carried on whether with or without the aid of power] ;
but does not include a mine subject to the operation of the Mines Act, 1923 (IV of
1923).
(k) “machinery” includes all plant whereby power is generated, transformed,
transmitted or applied ;
(l) “occupier” of a factory means the person who has ultimate control over the
affairs of the factory :
Provided that where the affairs of a factory are entrusted to a managing agent, such
agent shall be deemed to be the occupier of the factory ;
(m) where work of the same kind is carried out by two or more sets of workers
working during different periods of the day, each of such sets is called a “relay”,
and the period or periods for which it works is called a “shift”; and
(n) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by the 2[Provincial Government]
under this Act.
1
Ins. and subs. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 2.
2
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
Page 7 of 44
3. References to time of day.___References to time of day in this Act are references___1[* * *]
2
[* *], to 3[*] Standard Time, which is five 3[* * *] hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 1[*]
2
[* * * * * * *]
Provided that for any area 1[* * *] in which 3[*] Standard Time is not ordinarily observed the
2
[Provincial Government] may make rules___
(i) specifying the area,
(ii) defining the local mean time ordinarily observed therein, and
(iii) permitting such time to be observed in all or any of the factories situated in the
area.
4. Seasonal factories.___(1) For the purposes of this Act, a factory which is exclusively engaged
in one or more of the following manufacturing processes, namely, cotton ginning, cotton or jute
pressing, the decortication of groundnuts, the manufacture of coffee, indigo, lac, rubber, sugar
(including gur) or tea, or any manufacturing process which is incidental to or connected with any of
the aforesaid processes, is a seasonal factory :
Provided that the 2[Provincial Government] may, by notification in the 2[official Gazette],
declare any such factory in which manufacturing processes are ordinarily carried on for more than one
hundred and eighty working days in the year, not to be a seasonal factory for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The 2[Provincial Government] may, by notification in the 2[official Gazette], declare any
specified factory in which manufacturing processes are ordinarily carried on for not more than one
hundred and eighty working days in the year and cannot be carried on except during particular seasons
or at times dependent on the irregular action of natural forces, to be a seasonal factory for the purposes
of this Act.
4
[5. Power to apply provisions applicable to factories to certain other places.___(1) The
Provincial Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that all or any of the
provisions of this Act applicable to factories shall apply to any place wherein a manufacturing process
is being carried on or is ordinarily carried on whether with or without the use of power whenever
3
[five] or more workers are working therein or have worked therein any one day of the twelve months
immediately preceding.
1
Omitted by A. O., 1949, (w. e. f. 28th March, 1949).
2
Omitted and subs. by A. O., 1937.
3
Omitted and subs. by Act No. XVI of 1973, ss. 3 and 4.
4
Subs. by Act No. XVI of 1941, s. 2.
Page 8 of 44
(2) A notification under sub-section (1) may be made in respect of any one such place or in
respect of any class of such places or generally in respect of all such places.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (j) of section 2, a place, to which all or any
of the provisions of this Act applicable to factories are for the time being applicable in pursuance of a
declaration under sub-section (1), shall, to the extent to which such provisions are so made applicable
but not otherwise, be deemed to be a factory.]
6. Power to declare departments to be separate factories.___The 1[Provincial Government]
may, by order in writing, direct that the different departments or branches of a specified factory shall
be treated as separate factories for all or any of the purposes of this Act.
7. Power to exempt on a change in the factory.___Where the 1[Provincial Government] is
satisfied that, following upon a change of occupier of a factory or in the manufacturing process carried
on therein, the number of workers for the time being working in the factory is less than twenty and is
not likely to be twenty or more on any day during the ensuing twelve months, it may, by order in
writing, exempt such factory from the operation of this Act :
Provided that any exemption so granted shall cease to have effect on and after any day on which
twenty or more workers work in the factory.
2
[7A. Exemption from certain provisions of the Act.___The provisions of section 14, clause
(b) of sub-section (1) of section 15, sections 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25 and sub-section (3) of section
33Q shall not apply in the first instance to any factory wherein not more than nineteen workers are
working or were working on any one day of the twelve months immediately preceding :
Provided that the Provincial Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, apply all
or any of the said provisions to any such factory or class of such factories.]
8. Power to exempt during public emergency.___In any case of public emergency the
1
[Provincial Government] may, by notification in the 1[official Gazette], exempt any factory from any
or all of the provisions of this Act for such period as 1[it] may think fit.
9. Notice to Inspector before commencement of work.___(1) Before work is begun in any
factory after the commencement of this Act, or before work is begun in any seasonal factory each
season, the occupier shall send to the Inspector a written notice containing___
(a) the name of the factory and its situation,
(b) the address to which communications relating to the factory should be sent,
(c) the nature of the manufacturing processes to be carried on in the factory,
(d) the nature and amount of the power to be used, 3[*]
1
Subs.by A. O., 1937.
2
Ins by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 5.
3
Omitted by Act No. XIV of 1944, s. 2.
Page 9 of 44
(e) the name of the person who shall be the manager of the factory for the purposes
of this Act, 1[and
(f) such other particulars as may be prescribed for the purposes of this Act].
2
[(1A) In respect of all factories which come within the scope of this Act for the first time on
the commencement of the Factories (Amendment) Ordinance, 1972 (XLII of 1972), the occupier shall
send a written notice to the Inspector containing particulars specified in sub-section (1) within thirty
days of such commencement.]
(2) Whenever another person is appointed as manager, the occupier shall send to the Inspector
a written notice of the change, within seven days from the date in which the new manager assumes
charge.
(3) During any period for which no person has been designated as manager of a factory under
this section, or during which the person designated does not manage the factory, any person found
acting as manager, or, if no such person is found, the occupier himself, shall be deemed to be the
manager of the factory for the purposes of this Act.
________
CHAPTER II
THE INSPECTING STAFF
10. Inspectors.___(1) The 3[Provincial Government] may, by notification in the 3[official
Gazette], appoint such persons as it thinks fit to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act within such
local limits as it may assign to them respectively.
(2) The 3[Provincial Government] may, by notification as aforesaid, appoint any person to be a
Chief Inspector, who shall, in addition to the powers conferred on a Chief Inspector under this Act,
exercise the powers of an Inspector throughout the Province.
(3) No person shall be appointed to be an Inspector under sub-section (1) or a Chief Inspector
under sub-section (2) or, having been so appointed, shall continue to hold office, who is or becomes
directly or indirectly interested in a factory or in any process or business carried on therein or in any
patent or machinery connected therewith.
(4) Every District Magistrate shall be an Inspector for his district.
(5) The 3[Provincial Government] may also, by notification as aforesaid, appoint such public
officers as it thinks fit to be additional Inspectors for all or any of the purposes of this Act, within such
local limits as it may assign to them respectively.
(6) In any area where there are more Inspectors than one, the 3[Provincial Government] may,
by notification as aforesaid, declare the powers which such Inspectors shall respectively exercise, and
the Inspectors to whom the prescribed notices are to be sent.
1
Added by Act No. XIV of 1944, s. 2.
2
Ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 6.
3
Subs by A. O., 1937.
Page 10 of 44
(7) Every Chief Inspector and Inspector shall be deemed to be a public servant within the
meaning of the Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860) and shall be officially sub-ordinate to such
authority as the 1[Provincial Government] may specify in this behalf.
11. Powers of Inspector.___Subject to any rules made by the 1[Provincial Government] in this
behalf, an Inspector may, within the local limits for which he is appointed,___
(a) enter, with such assistants (if any), being persons 2[in the service of the state] or
of any municipal or other public authority, as he thinks fit, any place which is,
or which he has reason to believe to be, used as a factory or capable of being
declared to be a factory under the provisions of section 5 ;
(b) make such examination of the premises and plant and of any prescribed
registers, and take on the spot or otherwise such evidence of any persons as he
may deem necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act ; and
(c) exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes
of this Act :
Provided that no one shall be required under this section to answer any question or give any
evidence tending to criminate himself.
12. Certifying surgeons.___(1) The 1[Provincial Government] may appoint such registered
medical practitioners as it thinks fit to be certifying surgeons for the purposes of this Act within such
local limits as it may assign to them respectively.
(2) A certifying surgeon may authorise any registered medical practitioner to exercise any of
his powers under this Act:
Provided that a certificate of fitness for employment granted by such authorised practitioner
shall be valid for a period of three months only, unless it is confirmed by the certifying surgeon himself
after examination of the person concerned.
Explanation.___In this section a “registered medical practitioner” means any person registered
3
[* * *] under any Act of 4[the 5[Federal] Legislature or any Provincial Legislature] (21 & 22 Vict., c
90.)] providing for the maintenance of a register of medical practitioners, and includes, in any area
where no such register is maintained, any person declared by the 1[Provincial Government], by
notification in the 6[official Gazette], to be a registered medical practitioner for the purposes of this
section.
1
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
2
Subs. by A. O., 1961, Art 2 and Sch. (w. e. f. 23 March 1956).
3
Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (Ordinance No. XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sch., 2.
4
Subs. by A.O., 1949 (w.e.f. 28th March, 1949).
5
Subs. by the Federal Adaptation of Laws Order, 1975 (President’s Order No. 4 of 1975), Art. 2 and Table (w.e.f. 28th July 1975).
6
Subs. by A.O., 1937 (w.e.f. 1st April, 1937).
Page 11 of 44
1
[CHAPTER III
HEALTH AND SAFETY
13. Cleanliness.___(1) Every factory shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising from and
drain, privy or other nuisance, and in particular,__
(a) accumulation of dirt and refuse shall be removed daily by sweeping or by any
other effective method from the floors and benches of workrooms and from
stair-cases and passages and disposed of in a suitable manner ;
(b) the floor of every workroom shall be cleaned at least once in every week by washing,
using disinfectant where necessary or by some other effective method ;
(c) where the floor is liable to become wet in the course of any manufacturing
process to such extent as is capable of being drained, effective means of
drainage shall be provided and maintained ;
(d) all inside walls and partitions, all ceilings, or tops, of rooms, and walls, sides
and tops or passages and stair-cases shall___
(i) where they are painted or varnished, be repainted or revarnished at least
once in every five years ;
(ii) where they are painted or varnished and have smooth impervious
surfaces, be cleaned at least once in every fourteen months, by such
methods as may be prescribed ;
(iii) in any other case, kept whitewashed or colour washed and the
whitewashing or colour washing shall be carried out at least once in
every fourteen months ; and
(e) the dates on which the processes required by clause (d) are carried out
shall be entered in the prescribed register.
(2) If, in view of the nature of the operations carried on in a factory it is not possible for the
occupier to comply with all or any of the provisions of sub-section (1), the Provincial Government
may, by an order, exempt such factory or class or description of factories from any of the provisions
of that sub-section and specify alternative methods for keeping the factory in a clean state.
14. Disposal of wastes and effluents.___(1) Effective arrangements shall be made in every
factory for the disposal of wastes and effluents due to the manufacturing process carried on therein.
(2) The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing the arrangements to be made under
sub-section (1) or requiring that the arrangements made in accordance with that sub-section shall be
subject to the approval of such authority as may be prescribed.
1
Subs. by the Labour Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1972 (Ordinance No. IX of 1972), s. 2, Sch. 1 and 4. (w. e. f. 13th April 1972).
Page 12 of 44
15. Ventilation and temperature.___(1) Effective and suitable provisions shall be made in
every factory for securing and maintaining in every work-room___
(a) adequate ventilation by the circulation of fresh air, and
(b) such temperature as will secure to workers therein reasonable conditions of
comfort and prevent injury to health, and in particular___
(i) the walls and roofs shall be of such material and so designed that such
temperature shall not be exceeded but kept as low as practicable ;
(ii) where the nature of the work carried on in the factory involves, or is
likely to involve, the production of excessively high temperature, such
adequate measures as are practicable, shall be taken to protect the
workers therefrom by separating the process which produces such
temperature from the work-room by insulating the hot parts or by other
effective means.
(2) The Provincial Government may prescribe a standard of adequate ventilation and
reasonable temperature for any factory or class or description of factories or parts thereof and direct
that a thermometer shall be provided and maintained in such place and position as may be specified.
(3) If it appears to the Provincial Government that in any factory or class or description of
factories excessively high temperature can be reduced by such methods as whitewashing, spraying or
insulating and screening outside walls or roofs or windows, or by raising the level of the roof, or by
insulating the roof either by an air space and double roof or by the use of insulating roof materials, or
by other methods, it may prescribe such of these or other methods to be adopted in the factory.
16. Dust and fume.___(1) In every factory in which, by reason of the manufacturing process
carried on, there is given off any dust or fume or other impurity of such a nature and to such an extent
as is likely to be injurious or offensive to the workers employed therein, effective measures shall be
taken to prevent its accumulation in any work-room and its inhalation by workers, and if any exhaust
appliance is necessary for this purpose, it shall be applied as near as possible to the point of origin of
the dust, fume or other impurity, and such point shall be enclosed so far as possible.
(2) In any factory no stationary internal combustion engine shall be operated unless the exhaust
is conducted into open air and exhaust pipes are insulated to prevent scalding and radiation heat, and
no internal combustion engine shall be operated in any room unless, effective measures have been
taken to prevent, such accumulation of fumes therefrom as are likely to be injurious to the workers
employed in the work-room.
17. Artificial humidification.___(1) The Provincial Government may, in respect of all factories
in which humidity of the air is artificially increased, make rules___
(a) prescribing standards of humidification ;
(b) regulating the methods used for artificially increasing the humidity of the air ;
(c) directing prescribed test for determining the humidity of the air to be correctly
carried out and recorded ; and
Page 13 of 44
(d) Prescribing methods to be adopted for securing adequate ventilation and
cooling of the air in the work-rooms.
(2) In any factory in which the humidity of the air is artificially increased, the water used for
the purpose shall be taken from a public supply, or other source of drinking water, or shall be effectively
purified before it is so used.
(3) If it appears to an Inspector that the water used in a factory for increasing humidity which
is required to be effectively purified under sub-section (2) is not effectively purified, he may serve on
the Manager of the factory an order in writing specifying the measures which, in his opinion, should
be adopted, and requiring them to be carried out before a specified date.
18. Overcrowding.___(1) No work-room in any factory shall be overcrowded to an extent
injurious to the health of the workers employed therein.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1) there shall be
provided for every worker employed in a work-room___
(a) at least three hundred and fifty cubic feet of space in the case of a factory in
existence on the date of the commencement of the Labour Laws (Amendment)
Ordinance, 1972 ; and
(b) at least five hundred cubic feet of space in the case of a factory built after the
commencement of the Labour Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1972.
Explanation.___For the purpose of this sub-section no account shall be taken of a space which
is more than fourteen feet above the level of the floor of the room.
(3) If the Chief Inspector by order in writing so requires, there shall be posted in each work-
room of a factory a notice specifying the maximum number of workers who may in compliance with
the provisions of this section be employed in the room.
(4) The Chief Inspector may, by order in writing, exempt, subject to such conditions as he may
think fit to impose, any work-room from the provisions of this section if he is satisfied that compliance
therewith in respect of such room is not necessary for the purpose of health of the workers employed
therein.
19. Lighting.___(1) In every part of a factory where workers are working or passing, there shall
be provided and maintained___
(a) sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial, or both ; and
(b) emergency lighting of special points in work-room and passages to function
automatically in case of a failure of the ordinary electric supply system.
(2) In every factory all glazed windows and sky-lights used for the lighting of the work-room
shall be kept clean on both the outer and inner surfaces and free from obstruction as far as possible
under the rules framed under sub-section (3) of section 15.
Page 14 of 44
(3) In every factory effective provisions shall, so far as is practicable, be made for the
prevention of___
(a) glare either directly from any source of light or by reflection from a smooth or
polished surface ; and
(b) the formation of shadows to such an extent as to cause eye strain or risk of
accident to any worker.
(4) The Provincial Government may prescribe standards of sufficient and suitable lighting for
factories or for any class or description of factories or for any manufacturing process.
20. Drinking water.___(1) In every factory effective arrangement shall be made to provide and
maintain at suitable points conveniently situated for all workers employed therein a sufficient supply
of whole-some drinking water.
(2) All such points shall be legibly marked “Drinking Water” in a language understood by the
majority of the workers and no such point shall be situated within twenty feet of any washing place,
urinal or latrine, unless a shorter distance is approved in writing by the Chief Inspector.
(3) In every factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed,
provision shall be made for cooling the drinking water during the hot weather by effective means and
for distribution thereof and arrangements shall also be made for___
(a) the daily renewal of water if not laid on ; and
(b) a sufficient number of cups or other drinking vessels, unless the water is being
delivered in an upward jet.
(4) The Provincial Government may, in respect of all factories or any class or description of
factories, make rules for securing compliance with the provisions of this section.
21. Latrines and urinals.___(1) In every factory___
(a) sufficient latrines and urinals of prescribed types shall be provided conveniently
situated and accessible to workers at all times while they are in the factory ;
(b) enclosed latrines and urinals shall be provided separately for male and female
workers ;
(c) such latrines and urinals shall be adequately lighted and ventilated and no latrine
and urinal shall, unless specially exempted in writing by the Chief Inspector,
communicate with any work-room except through an intervening open space or
ventilated passage ;
(d) all such latrines and urinals shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition
at all times with suitable detergents or disinfectants or with both ;
Page 15 of 44
(e) the floors and internal walls of the latrines and urinals and the sanitary blocks
shall, up to a height of three feet, be finished to provide a smooth polished
imperious surface ; and
(f) washing facilities shall be provided near every sanitary convenience.
(2) The Provincial Government may prescribe the number of latrines and urinals to be provided
in any factory in proportion to the number of male and female workers ordinarily employed therein
and such further matters in respect of sanitation in the factories as it may deem fit.
22. Spittoons.___(1) In every factory there shall be provided, at convenient places, a sufficient
number of spittoons which shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.
(2) The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing the type and the number of
spittoons to be provided and their location in any factory and such further matters as may be deemed
necessary relating to their maintenance in a clean and hygienic condition.
(3) No person shall spit within the premises of a factory except in the spittoons provided for
the purpose. A notice containing this provision and the penalty for its violation shall be prominently
displayed at suitable places in the premises.
(4) Whosoever spits in contravention of sub-section (3) shall be punishable with a fine not
exceeding two rupees.
23. Precaution against contagious or infectious disease.___(1) Each worker in a factory shall
be provided with a 'Hygiene Card' in which during the 1[months of January and July every year entries]
shall be recorded after examination by appointed factory doctor to the effect that the worker is not
suffering from any contagious or infectious disease. The fee of such an examination shall be fixed by
the Provincial Government and will be borne by the occupier or manager of the factory.
(2) If a worker is found to be suffering from any contagious or infectious disease on an
examination under sub-section (1), he shall not be appointed on work till he is declared free of such a
disease.
1
[23A. Compulsory vaccination and inoculation.___Each worker in a factory shall be
vaccinated and inoculated against such diseases and at such intervals as may be prescribed. The
expenses, if any, of such vaccination and inoculation shall be borne by the occupier or manager of the
factory.]
24. Power to make rules for provision of canteens.___(1) The Provincial Government may
make rules requiring that in any specified factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers
are ordinarily employed, an adequate canteen shall be provided for the use of the workers.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for___
1
Subs. and ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, ss. 7 and 8.
Page 16 of 44
(a) the date by which such canteen shall be provided ;
(b) the standards in respect of construction, accommodation, furniture and other
equipment of the canteen ;
(c) the foodstuffs to be served therein and the charges which may be made, therefor ;
(d) representation of the workmen in the management of the canteens ;
(e) enabling, subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified, the power to
make rules under clause (c) to be exercised also by the Chief Inspector.
1
[24A. Welfare Officer.___In every factory wherein not less than five hundred workers are
ordinarily employed, the occupier or manager shall employ such number of welfare Officers, having
such qualifications, to perform such duties and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.]
25. Precautions in case of fire.___(1) Every factory shall be provided with such means of
escape in case of fire as may be prescribed.
(2) If it appears to the Inspector that any factory is not provided with the means of escape
prescribed under sub-section (1), he may serve on the manager of the factory an order in writing
specifying the measures which, in his opinion, should be adopted before a date specified in the order.
(3) In every factory the doors affording exit from any room shall not be locked or fastened so
that they can be easily and immediately opened from inside while any person is within the room, and
all such doors, unless they are of the sliding type, shall be constructed to open outwards or where the
door is between two rooms, in the direction of the nearest exit from the building and such door shall
not be locked or obstructed while work is being carried on in the room and shall at all times be kept
free from any obstruction.
(4) In every factory every window, door, or other exit affording means of escape in case of fire,
other than means of exit in ordinary use, shall be distinctively marked in a language understood by the
majority of the workers and in red letters of adequate size or by some other effective and clearly
understood sign.
(5) In every factory there shall be provided effective and clearly audible means of giving
warning in case of fire to every person employed therein.
(6) A free passage-way giving access to each means of escape in case of fire shall be maintained
for the use of all workers in every room of the factory.
(7) In every factory wherein more than ten workers are ordinarily employed in any place above
the ground floor, or explosive or highly inflammable materials are used or stored, effective measures
shall be taken to ensure that all the workers are familiar with the means of escape in case of fire and
have been adequately trained in the routine to be followed in such case.
(8) The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing in respect of any factory, or class
or description of factories, the means of escape to be provided in case of fire and the nature and amount
of fire fighting apparatus to be provided and maintained.
1
Ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 9.
Page 17 of 44
26. Fencing of machinery.___(1) In every factory the following shall be securely fenced by the
safeguards of substantial construction which shall be kept in position while the parts of machinery
required to be fenced are in motion or in use, namely___
(a) every moving part of a prime mover, and every fly wheel connected to a prime
mover ;
(b) the headrace and tailrace of every water wheel and water turbine ;
(c) any part of a stock-bar which protects beyond the head stock of a lathe ; and
(d) unless they are in such position or of such construction as to be as safe to
every person employed in the factory as they would be if they were securely
fenced___
(i) every part of an electric generator, a motor or rotary convertor ;
(ii) every part of transmission machinery ; and
(iii) every dangerous part of any machinery :
Provided that, in the case of dangerous parts of machinery that cannot be securely fenced by
reason of the nature of operation, such fencing may be substituted by other adequate measures, such
as___
(i) devices automatically preventing the operation from coming into
contact with the dangerous parts ; and
(ii) automatic stopping devices :
Provided further that, for the purpose of determining whether any part of machinery is in such
position or is of such construction as to be safe as aforesaid, account shall not be taken of any occasion
when it being necessary to make as examination of the machinery while it is in motion or, as a result
of such examination, to carry out any mounting or shipping of belts, lubrication or other adjusting
operation while the machinery is in motion, such examination or operation is made or carried out in
accordance with the provisions of section 27.
(2) Without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act relating to the fencing of machinery,
every set screw, belt and key on any revolving shaft, spindle wheel or pinion and all spur, worm and
other toothed or friction gearing in motion with which such worker would otherwise be liable to come
into contact, shall be securely fenced to prevent such contact.
(3) The Provincial Government may exempt, subject to such conditions as may be imposed,
for securing the safety of the workers, any particular machinery or part from the provisions of this
section.
(4) The Provincial Government may, by rules, prescribe such further precautions as it may
consider necessary in respect of any particular machinery or part thereof.
27. Work on or near machinery in motion.___(1) Where in any factory it becomes necessary
to examine any part of machinery referred to in section 26 while the machinery is in motion, or as a
Page 18 of 44
result of such examination, to carry out any mounting or shipping of belts, lubrication or other adjusting
operation while the machinery is in motion, such examination or operation shall be made or carried
out only by a specially trained adult male worker wearing tight fitting clothing whose name has been
recorded in the register prescribed in this behalf and while he is so engaged, such worker shall not
handle a belt at a moving pulley unless the belt is less than six inches in width and unless the belt joint
is either laced or flush with the belt.
(2) No woman or child shall be allowed in any factory to clean, lubricate or adjust any part of
machinery while that part is in motion, or to work between moving parts or between fixed and moving
parts of any machinery which is in motion.
(3) The Provincial Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, prohibit, in any
specified factory or class or description of factories, the cleaning, lubricating or adjusting by any
person, of specified parts of machinery when those parts are in motion.
28. Employment of young persons on dangerous machines.___(1) No 1[child or adolescent]
shall work at any machine unless he has been fully instructed as to the dangers arising in connection
with the machine and the precautions to be observed and___
(a) has received sufficient training in work at the machine, or
(b) is under adequate supervision by a person who has thorough knowledge and
experience of the machine.
(2) This section shall apply to such machines as may be notified by the Provincial Government
to be of such a dangerous character that 1[children or adolescents] ought not to work at them unless
the foregoing requirements are complied with.
29. Striking gear and devices for cutting off power.___(1) In every factory___
(a) suitable striking gear or other efficient mechanical appliances shall be provided
and maintained and used to move driving belts to and from fast and loose
pulleys which form part of the transmission machinery, and such gear or
appliances shall be so constructed, placed and maintained as to prevent the belt
from creeping back on the fast pulleys ;
(b) driving belts when not in use shall not be allowed to rest or ride upon shafting
in motion.
(2) In every factory suitable devices for cutting off power in emergencies from running
machinery shall be provided and maintained in every work-room.
(3) In respect of factories in operation before the commencement of this Ordinance the
provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply only to work-rooms in which electricity is used for power.
1
Subs. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 10.
Page 19 of 44
30. Self-acting machines. ___No traversing part of a self-acting machine in any factory and no
material carried thereon shall, if the space over which it runs is a space over which any person is liable
to pass whether in the course of his employment or otherwise be allowed to run on it outward or inward
traverse within a distance of eighteen inches from any fixed structure which is not part of the machine :
Provided that the Chief Inspector may permit the continued use of a machine installed before
the commencement of the Labour Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1972, which does not comply with
the requirements of this section on such conditions for ensuring safety as he may think fit to impose.
31. Casing of new machinery.___(1) In all machinery driven by power and installed in any
factory after the commencement of the Labour Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1972___
(a) every set screw, belt or key on any revolving shaft, spindle, wheel or pinion
shall be so sunk, encased or otherwise effectively guarded as to prevent danger
; and
(b) all spur, worm and other toothed or friction gearing which does not require
frequent adjustment while in motion shall be completely encased unless it is so
situated as to be as safe as it would be if it were completely encased.
(2) Whoever sells or lets on hire or, as agent of a seller or hirer, causes or procures to be sold
or let on hire, for use in a factory any machinery driven by power which does not comply with the
provisions of sub-section (1), shall be punishable with imprisonment, for a term which may extend to
three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
(3) The Provincial Government may make rules specifying further safe-guards to be provided
in respect of any other dangerous part of any particular machine or class or description of machines.
32. Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton openers. ___ No woman
or child shall be employed in any part of a factory for pressing cotton in which a cotton opener is at work :
Provided that if the feed end of a cotton opener is in a room separated from the delivery end by
a partition extending to the roof or to such height as the Inspector may in any particular case specify
in writing, women and children may be employed on the side of the partition where the feed end is
situated.
33. Cranes and other lifting machinery.___(1) The following provisions shall apply in respect
of cranes and all other lifting machinery, other than hoists and lifts in any factory___
(a) every part thereof, including the working gear, whether fixed or moveable, ropes
and chains and anchoring and fixing appliances shall be___
(i) of good construction, sound material and adequate strength ;
(ii) properly maintained ;
(iii) thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every
period of twelve months, and a register shall be kept containing the
prescribed particulars of every such examination ;
Page 20 of 44
(b) no such machinery shall be loaded beyond the safe working load which shall be
plainly marked thereon ;
(c) while any person is employed or working on or near the wheel tract of a
travelling crane in any place where he would be liable to be struck by the crane
effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the crane does not approach
within twenty feet of that place or come into accidental contact with live
electrical lines ;
(d) limit switches shall be provided to prevent over running ; and
(e) jib cranes, permitting the raising or lowering of the jib shall be provided with
an automatic safe load indicator or have attached to them a table indicating the
safe working load at corresponding inclinations of the jib.
(2) The Provincial Government may make rules in respect of any lifting machinery or class or
description of lifting machinery in factories___
(a) prescribing requirements to be complied with in addition to those set out in this
section ; or
(b) exempting from compliance with all or any of the requirements of this section,
where in its opinion such compliance is unnecessary or impracticable.
33A. Hoists and lifts.___(1) In every factory___
(a) every hoist and lift shall be___
(i) of good mechanical construction, sound material and adequate strength ;
(ii) properly maintained, and shall be thoroughly examined by a competent
person authorised by the Chief Inspector in this behalf at least once in
every period of six months, and a register shall be kept containing the
prescribed particulars of every such examination of which a copy shall
be forwarded to the Chief Inspector ;
(b) every hoistway and liftway shall be sufficiently protected by an enclosure fitted
with gates, and the hoist or lift and every such enclosure shall be so constructed
as to prevent any person or thing from being trapped between any part of the
hoist or lift and any fixed structure or moving part ;
(c) the maximum safe working load shall be plainly marked on every hoist or lift,
and no load greater than such load shall be carried thereon ;
(d) the cage of every hoist or lift used for carrying persons shall be fitted with a gate
on each side from which access is afforded to a landing ;
(e) every gate referred to in clause (b) or clause (d) shall be fitted with interlocking
or other efficient device to secure that the gate cannot be opened except when
Page 21 of 44
the cage is at the landing and that the cage cannot be moved unless the gate is
closed.
(2) The following additional requirements shall apply to hoists and lifts used for carrying
persons and installed or reconstructed in a factory after the commencement of the Labour Laws
(Amendment) 1972, namely :___
(a) Where the cage is supported by rope or chain there shall be at least two ropes
or chains separately connected with the cage and balance weight, and each rope
or chain with its attachments shall be capable of carrying the whole weight of
the cage together with its maximum load ;
(b) efficient devices shall be provided and maintained capable of supporting the
cage together with its maximum load in the event of breakage of the ropes,
chains or attachments ;
(c) an efficient automatic device shall be provided and maintained to prevent the
cage from over-running.
(3) The Chief Inspector may permit the continued use of a hoist or lift installed in a factory
before the commencement of this Ordinance which does not fully comply with the provisions of sub-
section (1) upon such conditions for ensuring safety as he may think fit to impose.
(4) The Provincial Government may, if, in respect of class or description of hoist or lift, it is of
opinion that it would unreasonable to enforce any requirement of sub-sections (1) and (2), by order
direct that such requirements shall not apply to such class or description of hoist or lift.
33B. Revolving machinery.___(1) In every room in a factory in which the process of grinding
is carried on there shall be permanently affixed to, or placed near, each machine in use a notice
indicating the maximum safe working peripheral speed of every grind stone or abrasive wheel, the
speed of the shaft or spindle upon which the wheel is mounted and the diameter of the pully upon such
shaft or spindle necessary to secure such safe working peripheral speed.
(2) The speeds indicated in the notice under sub-section (1) shall not be exceeded.
(3) Effective measures shall be taken in every factory to ensure that the safe working peripheral
speed of every revolving vessel, cage basket, flywheel, pulley disc or similar appliance driven by
power is not exceeded.
33C. Pressure plant.___(1) If in any factory any part of the plant or machinery used in a
manufacturing process is operated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, effective measures shall
be taken to ensure that safe working pressure of such part is not exceeded.
Page 22 of 44
(2) The Provincial Government may make rules providing for the examination and testing of
any plant or machinery such as is referred to in sub-section (1) and prescribing such other safety
measures in relation thereto as may, in its opinion, be necessary in any factory or class or description
of factories.
33D. Floors, stairs and means of access.___In every factory___
(a) all floors, stairs, passages and gangways shall be of sound construction and
properly maintained and where it is necessary to ensure safety, steps, stairs,
ladders, passages and gangways shall be provided with substantial handrails ;
(b) there shall so far as is reasonably practicable be provided and maintained safe
means of access to every place at which any person is at any time required to
work ;
(c) all places of work from which a worker may be liable to fall a distance
exceeding three feet and six inches shall be provided with fencing or there
suitable safeguards ; and
(d) adequate provision shall be made for the drainage of floors in wet processes and
for the use of slatted stands and platforms.
33E. Pits, sumps, opening, in floors, etc.___(1) In every factory, every fixed vessel, sump, tank
pit or opening in the ground or in a floor which by reason of its depth, situation, construction or
contents, is or may be a source of danger, shall be either securely covered or securely fenced.
(2) The Provincial Government may, by order in writing, exempt, subject to such conditions as
may be imposed, any factory or class or description of factories in respect of any vessel sump, tank pit
or opening from compliance with the provisions of this section.
33F. Excessive weights.___(1) No person shall be employed in any factory to lift, carry or move
any load so heavy as to be likely to cause him injury.
(2) The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing the maximum weights which may
be lifted, carried or moved by adult men, adult women, adolescents and children employed in factories
or in any class or description of factories or in carrying on any specified process.
33G. Protection of eyes.___The Provincial Government may, in respect of any manufacturing
process carried on in any factory, by rules require that effective screens or suitable goggles shall be
provided for the protection of persons employed on, or in the immediate vicinity of, a process which
involves:___
(a) risk of injury to the eyes from particles or fragments thrown off in the course
of the process, or
(b) risk to the eyes by reason of exposure to excessive light or heat.
33. H. Powers to require specifications of defective parts or tests of stability.___If it appears
to the Inspector that any building or part of a building, or any part of the ways, machinery or plant in
a factory, is in such a condition that it may be dangerous to human life or safety, he may serve on the
Manager of the factory an order in writing, requiring him before a specified date___
Page 23 of 44
(a) to furnish such drawings, specifications and other particulars as may be
necessary to determine whether such building, ways, machinery or plant can be
used with safety, or
(b) to carry out such tests as may be necessary to determine the strength or quality
of any specified parts and to inform the Inspector of the results thereof.
33I. Safety of building, machinery and manufacturing process.___(1) If it appears to the
Inspector that any building or part of a building or any part of the ways, machinery or plant or
manufacturing process in a factory is in such a condition that it is dangerous to human health or safety,
he may serve on the Manager of the factory an order in writing specifying the measures which, in his
opinion, should be adopted, and requiring them to be carried out before a specified date.
(2) If it appears to the Chief Inspector that the requisitions made under sub-section (1) are not
satisfactorily fulfilled thereby involving exposure of workers to serious hazards, he may serve on the
Manager of the factory an order in writing, containing a statement of the grounds of his opinion,
prohibiting until the danger is removed, the employment, in or about the factory or part thereof, of any
person whose employment is not in his opinion reasonably necessary for the purpose of removing the
danger.
(3) If it appears to the Inspector that the use of any building or part of a building or of any part
of the ways, machinery or plant or manufacturing process in a factory involves imminent danger to
human health or safety he may serve on the Manager of the factory an order in writing prohibiting,
until the danger is removed, the employment, in or about the factory or part thereof, of any person
whose employment is not in his opinion reasonably necessary for the purpose of removing the danger.
(4) Nothing in sub-section (2) or (3) shall be deemed to affect the continuance in the
employment of the factory of a person whose employment in or about the factory or part thereof is
prohibited under that sub-section.
33J. Power to make rules to supplement this Chapter.___The Provincial Government may
make rules requiring that___
(1) in any factory or in any class or description of factories, such further devices and measures
for securing the safety of the persons employed therein as it may deem necessary shall be adopted ;
and
(2) work on a manufacturing process carried on with the aid of power shall not be begun in any
building or part of a building erected or taken into use as a factory until a certificate of stability in the
prescribed form and signed by a person possessing the prescribed qualifications has been sent to the
Chief Inspector.
33K. Precautions against dangerous fumes.___(1) In any factory no person shall enter or be
permitted to enter any chamber, tank, vat, pit, pipe, flue or other confined space in which dangerous
fumes are likely to be present to such an extent as to involve risk of persons being overcome thereby,
unless it is provided with a manhole of adequate size or other effective means of egress.
(2) No portable electric light of voltage exceeding twenty-four volts shall be permitted in any
factory for use inside any confined space such as is referred to in sub-section (1) and, where the fumes
Page 24 of 44
present are likely to be inflammable, a lamp or light other than of flame proof construction shall not
be permitted to be used in such confined space.
(3) No person in any factory shall enter or be permitted to enter any confined space such as is
referred to in sub-section (1) until all practicable measures have been taken to remove any fumes which
may be present and to prevent ingress of fumes and unless either—
(a) a certificate in writing has been given by a competent person, based on a test
carried out by himself, that the space is free from dangerous fumes and fit for
persons to enter, or
(b) the worker is wearing suitable breathing apparatus and a belt securely attached
to a rope, the free end of which is held by a person standing outside the confined
space.
(4) Suitable breathing apparatus, reviving apparatus and belts and ropes shall in every factory
be kept ready for instant use beside any such confined space as aforesaid which any person has entered,
and all such apparatus shall be periodically examined and certified by a competent person to be fit for
use ; and a sufficient number of persons employed in every factory shall be trained and practiced in
the use of all such apparatus and in the method of restoring respiration.
(5) No person shall be permitted to enter in any factory, any boiler furence, boiler flue, chamber,
tank, vat, pipe or other confined space for the purpose of working or making any examination therein
until it has been sufficiently cooled by ventilation or otherwise to be safe for persons to enter.
(6) The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing the maximum dimensions of the
mainholes referred to in sub-section (1) and may, by order in writing, exempt, subject to such
conditions as it may think fit to impose, any factory or class or description of factories from compliance
with any of the provisions of this section.
33L. Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc.___(1) Where in any factory any manufacturing
process produces dust, gas, fume or vapour of such character and to such extent as to be likely to
explode on ignition, all practicable measures shall be taken to prevent any such explosion by___
(a) effective enclosure of the plant or machinery used in the process ;
(b) removal or prevention of the accumulation of such dust, gas, fume or vapour ;
(c) exclusion or effective enclosure of all possible sources of ignition.
(2) Where in any factory the plant or machinery used in a process such as is referred to in sub-
section (1) is not so constructed as to withstand the probable pressure which such an explosion as
aforesaid would produce, all practicable measures shall be taken to restrict the spread and effects of
the explosion by the provision in the plant or machinery of chokes, Baffles, vents or other effective
appliances.
(3) Where any part of the plant or machinery in a factory contains any explosive or inflammable
gas or vapour under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, that part shall not be opened except in
accordance with the following provisions, namely :___
Page 25 of 44
(a) before the fastening of any joint of any pipe connected with the part of the
fastening of the cover of any opening into the part is loosened.
any flow of the gas or vapour into the part or any such pipe shall be effectively
stopped by a stop-valve or other means ;
(b) before any such fastening as aforesaid is removed, all practicable measures shall
be taken to reduce the pressure of the gas or vapour in the part or pipe to
atmospheric pressure ;
(c) where any such fastening as aforesaid has been loosened or removed, effective
measures shall be taken to prevent any explosive or inflammable gas or vapour
from entering the part or pipe until the fastening has been secured or, as the case
may be, securely replaced :
Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of plant or machinery
installed in the open air.
(4) No plant, tank or vessel which contains or has contained any explosive or inflammable
substance shall be subjected in any factory to any welding, brazing, soldering or cutting operation
which involves the application of heat or to any drilling or other operation which is likely to create
heat or sparks, unless adequate measures have first been taken to remove such substance and any fumes
arising therefrom or to render such substance and fumes non-explosive or non-inflammable, and no
such substance shall be allowed to enter such plant, tank or vessel after any such operation until the
metal has cooled sufficiently to prevent any risk of igniting the substance.
(5) The Provincial Government may by rules exempt, subject to such condition as may be
prescribed, any factory or class or description of factories from compliance with all or any of the
provisions of this section.
33M. Power to exclude children.___(1) The Provincial Government may make rules
prohibiting the admission to any specified class of factories, or to specified parts thereof, of children
who cannot be lawfully employed therein.
(2) If it appears to the Inspector that the presence in any factory or part of a factory of children
who cannot be lawfully employed therein may be dangerous to them or injurious to their health, he
may serve on the manager of the factory an order in writing directing him to prevent the admission of
such children to the factory or any part of it.
33N. Notice of certain accident.___Where in any factory an accident occurs which causes
death, or which causes any bodily injury whereby any person injured is prevented from resuming his
work in the factory during the forty-eight hours after the accident occurred, or which is of any nature
which may be prescribed in this behalf, the manager of the factory shall send notice thereof to such
authorities, and in such form and within such time, as may be prescribed.
33P. Appeals.___(1) The manager of a factory on whom an order in writing by an Inspector has
been served under the provisions of this Chapter, or the occupier of the factory, may, within thirty days
of the service of the order, appeal against it to the Provincial Government, or to such authority as the
Provincial Government may appoint in this behalf, and the Provincial Government or appointed
Page 26 of 44
authority may, subject to rules made in this behalf by the Provincial Government, confirm, modify or
reverse the order.
(2) The appellate authority may, and if so required in the petition or appeal shall, hear the appeal
with the aid of assessors, one of whom shall be appointed by the appellate authority and the other by
such body representing the industry concerned as the Provincial Government may prescribe in this
behalf :
Provided that if no assessor is appointed by such body, or if the assessor so appointed fails to
attend at the time and place fixed for hearing the appeal, the appellate authority may, unless satisfied
that the failure to attend is due to sufficient cause, proceed to hear the appeal without the aid of such
assessor, or if it thinks fit, without the aid of any assessor.
(3) Except in the case of an appeal against an order under sub-section (3) of section 33I or sub-
section (2) of section 33M the appellate authority may, suspend the order appealed against pending the
decision of the appeal, subject however to such conditions as to partial compliance or the adoption of
temporary measures as it may choose to impose in any case.
33Q. Additional power to make health and safety rules relating to shelters during rest.___
(1) The Provincial Government may make rules requiring that in any specified factory wherein more
than one hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed, an adequate shelter shall be provided for
the use of workers during periods of rest, and such rules may prescribe the standards of such shelters.
(2) rooms for children.___The Provincial Government may also make rules___
(a) requiring that in any specified factory, wherein more than fifty women workers
are ordinarily employed, a suitable room shall be reserved for the use of children
under the age of six years belonging to such women, and
(b) prescribing the standards for such rooms and the nature of the supervision to be
exercised over the children therein.
(3) certificates of stability.___The Provincial Government may also make rules, for any class of
factories and for the whole or any part of the Province, requiring that work on a manufacturing process
carried on with the aid of power shall not be begun in any building or part of a building erected or
taken into use as a factory after the commencement of this Act, until a certificate of stability in the
prescribed form, signed by a person possessing the prescribed qualifications, has been sent to the
Inspector.
(4) hazardous operations.___Where the Provincial Government is satisfied that any operation
in a factory exposes any persons employed upon it to a serious risk of bodily injury, poisoning or
disease, it may make rules applicable to any factory or class of factories in which the operation is
carried on___
(a) specifying the operation and declaring it to be hazardous,
(b) prohibiting or restricting the employment of women, adolescents or children
upon the operation,
Page 27 of 44
(c) providing for the medical examination of persons employed or seeking to be
employed upon the operation and prohibiting the employment of persons not
certified as fit for such employment, and
(d) providing for the protection of all persons employed upon the operation or in
the vicinity of the places where it is carried on.]
1
[(5) The Provincial Government may also make rules requiring the occupiers or managers of
factories to maintain stores of first-aid appliances and provide for their proper custody and use.]
CHAPTER IV
RESTRICTIONS ON WORKING HOURS OF ADULTS
34. Weekly hours. No adult worker shall be allowed to work in a factory for more than 2[forty-
eight] hours in any week, or, where the factory is a seasonal one, for more than 2[fifty] hours in any
week :
Provided that an adult worker in a 3[*] factory engaged in work which for technical reasons
must be continuous throughout the day may work for fifty-six hours in any week.
35. Weekly holiday.___(1) No adult worker shall be allowed to work in a factory on a Sunday
unless___
(a) he has had or will have a holiday for a whole day on one of the three days
immediately before or after that Sunday, and
(b) the manager of the factory has, before that Sunday or the substituted day,
whichever is earlier,___
(i) delivered a notice to the office of the Inspector of his intention to require
the worker to work on the Sunday and of the day which is to be
substituted, and
(ii) displayed a notice to that effect in the factory :
Provided that no substitution shall be made which will result in any worker working for more
than ten days consecutively without a holiday for a whole day.
(2) Notice given under sub-section (1) may be cancelled by a notice delivered to the office of
the Inspector and a notice displayed in the factory not later than the day before the Sunday or the
holiday to be cancelled, whichever is earlier.
(3) Where, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), any worker works on a Sunday
and has had a holiday on one of the three days immediately before it, that Sunday shall, for the purpose
of calculating his weekly hours of work, be included in the preceding week.
1
Added by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 11.
2
Subs by Act No. X of 1946, s. 2 (w. e. f. the Ist August 1946).
3
Omitted by Act No. V of 1947, s. 3.
Page 28 of 44
1
[35A. Compensatory holidays.___(1) Where, as a result of the passing of an order or the
making of a rule under the provisions of this Act exempting a factory or the workers therein from the
provisions of section 35, a worker is deprived of any of the weekly holidays for which provision is
made by sub-section (1) of that section, he shall be allowed, as soon as circumstances permit,
compensatory holidays of equal number to the holidays so lost.
(2) The Provincial Government may make rules prescribing the manner in which the holidays,
for which provision is made in sub-section (1), shall be allowed.]
36. Daily hours.___No adult worker shall be allowed to work in a factory for more than 2[nine]
hours in any day :
Provided that a male adult worker in a seasonal factory may work for 2[ten] hours in any day.
37. Intervals for rest.___The periods of work of adult workers in a factory during each day
shall be fixed either___
(a) so that no period shall exceed six hours, and so that no worker shall work for
more than six hours before he has had an interval for rest of at least one hour ;
or
(b) so that no period shall exceed five hours and so that no worker shall work for
more than five hours before he has had an interval for rest of at least half an
hours, or for more than eight and a half hours before he has had at least two such
intervals.
38. Spread over.___The periods of work of an adult worker in a factory shall be so arranged
that alongwith his intervals for rest under section 37, they shall not spread over more than 3[twelve]
hours in any day, save with the permission of the 4[Provincial Government] and subject to such
conditions as it may impose, either generally or in the case of any particular factory.
39. Notice of periods for Work for Adults and preparation thereof.___(1) There shall be
displayed and correctly maintained in every factory in accordance with the provisions of sub-section
(2) of section 76 a Notice of Periods for Work for Adults showing clearly the periods within which
adult workers may be required to work.
(2) The periods shown in the Notice required by sub-section (1) shall be fixed beforehand in
accordance with the following provisions of this section and shall be such that workers working for
those periods would not be working in contravention of any of the provisions of section 34, 35, 36, 37
and 38.
1
Ins. by Act No. III of 1945, s. 2., (w. e. f. the 1st January 1946).
2
Subs. by Act No. X of 1946, s. 3 (w. e. f. the 1st August, 1946).
3
Subs. by the Finance Act, 2006 (Act No. III of 2006), s. 3.
4
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
Page 29 of 44
(3) Where all the adult workers in a factory are required to work within the same periods, the
manager of the factory shall fix those periods for such workers generally.
(4) Where all the adult workers in a factory are not required to work within the same periods,
the manager of the factory shall classify them into groups according to the nature of their work.
(5) For each group which is not required to work on a system of shifts, the manager of the
factory shall fix the periods within which the group may be required to work.
(6) Where any group is required to work on a system of shifts and the relays are not to be
subject to predetermined periodical changes of shift, the manager of the factory shall fix the periods
within which each relay of the group may be required to work.
(7) Where any group is to work on a system of shifts and the relays are to be subject to
predetermined periodical changes of shifts, the manager of the factory shall draw up a scheme of shifts
whereunder the periods within which any relay of the group may be required to work and the relay
which will be working at any time of the day shall be known for any day.
(8) The 1[Provincial Government] may make rules prescribing forms for the Notice of Periods
for Work for Adults and the manner in which it shall be maintained.
40. Copy of Notice of Periods for Work to be sent to Inspector.___(1) A copy of the Notice
referred to in sub-section (1) of section 39 shall be sent in duplicate to the Inspector within fourteen
days after the commencement of this Act, or, if the factory begins work after the commencement of
this Act, before the day on which it begins work.
(2) Any proposed change in the system of work in a factory which will necessitate a change in
the Notice shall be notified to the Inspector in duplicate before the change is made, and, except with
the previous sanction of the Inspector, no such change shall be made until one week has elapsed since
the last change.
41. Register of Adult Workers.___(1) The manager of every factory shall maintain a Register
of Adult Workers showing___
(a) the name 2[and age] of each adult worker in the factory,
(b) the nature of his work,
(c) the group, if any, in which he is included,
(d) where his group works on shifts, the relay to which he is allotted, and
(e) such other particulars as may be prescribed :
1
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
2
Ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s.12.
Page 30 of 44
Provided that, if the Inspector is of opinion that any muster roll or register maintained as part
of the routine of a factory gives in respect of any or all of the workers in the factory the particulars
required under this section, he may, by order in writing, direct that such muster roll or register shall to
the corresponding extent be maintained in place of and be treated as the Register of Adult Workers in
that factory :
Provided further that, where the 1[Provincial Government] is satisfied that the conditions of
work in any factory or class of factories are such that there is no appreciable risk of contravention of
the provisions of this Chapter in the case of that factory or factories of that class, as the case may be,
the 1[Provincial Government] may, by written order, exempt, on such conditions as it may impose, that
factory or all factories of that class, as the case may be, from the provisions of this section.
(2) The 1[Provincial Government] may make rules prescribing the form of the Register of Adult
Workers, the manner in which it shall be maintained and the period for which it shall be preserved.
42. Hours of work to correspond with Notice under section 39 and Register under section
41.___No adult worker shall be allowed to work otherwise than in accordance with the Notice of Periods
for Work for Adults displayed under sub-section (1) of section 39 and the entries made beforehand
against his name in the Register of Adult Workers maintained under section 41.
43. Power to make rules exempting from restrictions.___(1) The 1[Provincial Government)
may make rules defining the persons who hold positions of supervision or management or are
employed in a confidential position in a factory, and the provisions of this Chapter, 2[other than the
provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 45 and of the provisos to that sub-section], shall
not apply to any person so defined.
(2) The 1[Provincial Government] may make rules for adult workers providing for the
exemption, to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in such rules,___
(a) of workers engaged on urgent repairs___from the provisions of sections 34, 35,
36, 37 and 38 ;
(b) of workers engaged in work in the nature of preparatory or complementary work
which must necessarily be carried on outside the limits laid down for the general
working of the factory___from the provisions of sections 34, 36, 37 and 38 ;
(c) of workers engaged in work which is necessarily so intermittent that the
intervals during which they do not work while on duty ordinarily amount to
more than intervals for rest required under section 37___from the provisions of
sections 34, 36, 37 and 38 ;
(d) of workers engaged in any work which for technical reasons must be carried on
continuously throughout the day___from the provisions of sections 34, 35, 36,
37 and 38 ;
1
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
2
Ins. by Act No. XI of 1935, s. 2.
Page 31 of 44
(e) of workers engaged in making or supplying articles of prime necessity which
must be made or supplied every day___from the provisions of section 35 ;
(f) of workers engaged in a manufacturing process which cannot be carried on
except during fixed seasons___from the provisions of section 35 ;
(g) of workers engaged in a manufacturing process which cannot be carried on
except at times dependent on the irregular action of natural forces___from the
provisions of section 35 and section 37 ; and
(h) of workers engaged in engine-rooms or boiler-houses___from the provisions of
section 35.
(3) Rules made under sub-section (2) providing for any exemption may also provide for any
consequential exemption from the provisions of sections 39 and 40 which the 1[Provincial
Government] may deem to be expedient, subject to such conditions as it may impose.
(4) In making rules under this section the 1[Provincial Government] shall prescribe the
maximum limits for the weekly hours of work for all classes of workers, and any exemption given,
other than an exemption under clause (a) of sub-section (2), shall be subject to such limits.
(5) Rules made under this section shall remain in force for not more than three years.
44. Power to make orders exempting from restrictions.___(1) Where the 1[Provincial
Government] is satisfied that, owing to the nature of the work carried on or to other circumstances, it
is unreasonable to require that the periods of work of any adult workers in any factory or class of
factories should be fixed beforehand, it may, by written order, relax or modify the provisions of
sections 39 and 40 in respect of such workers to such extent and in such manner as it may think fit,
and subject to such conditions as it may deem expedient to ensure control over periods of work.
(2). The 1[Provincial Government], or subject to the control of the 1[Provincial Government]
the Chief inspector, may, by written order, exempt, on such conditions as it or he may deem expedient,
any or all of the adult workers in any factory, or group or class of factories, from any or all of the
provisions of sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40, on the ground that the exemption is required to
enable the factory or factories to deal with an exceptional press of work.
(3) Any exemption given under sub-section (2) in respect of weekly hours of work shall be
subject to the maximum limits prescribed under sub-section (4) of section 43.
2
[(4) An order under sub-section (2) shall remain in force for such period, not exceeding two
months from the date on which notice thereof is given to the manager of the factory, as may be specified
in the order :
1
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
2
Subs. by Act No. X of 1946, s. 5 (w. e. f. the 1st August, 1946).
Page 32 of 44
Provided that if in the opinion of the Provincial Government the public interest so requires, the
Provincial Government may from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, extend the
operation of any such order for a period, not exceeding six months at any one time, as may be specified
in the notification.]
45. Further restrictions on the employment of women.___(1) The provisions of this Chapter
shall, in their application to women workers in factories, be supplemented by the following further
restrictions, namely___
(a) no exemption from the provisions of section 36 may be granted in respect of
any woman ; and
(b) no woman shall be allowed to work in a factory except between 6 A. M. and 7
P.M. :
1
[Provided that if the employer arranges for the transport facilities, a woman with her consent
may work up to 10.00 p.m. in two shifts]
1
[Omitted]
(2) The 2[Provincial Government] may make rules providing for the exemption from the above
restrictions, to such extent and subject to such conditions as it may prescribe, of women working in
fish-curing or fish-canning factories where the employment of women beyond the said hours is
necessary to prevent damage to or deterioration in any raw material.
(3) Rules made under sub-section (2) shall remain in force for not more than three years.
46. Special provision for night-shifts. Where a worker works on a shift which extends over
midnight, the ensuing day for him shall be deemed to be the period of twenty-four hours beginning
when such shift ends, and the hours he has worked after midnight shall be counted towards the previous
day :
Provided that the 2[Provincial Government] may, by order in writing, direct that in the case of
any specified factory or any specified class of workers therein the ensuing day shall be deemed to be
the period of twenty-four hours beginning when such shift begins and that the hours worked before
midnight shall be counted towards the ensuing day.
47. Extra pay for overtime.___3[(1) Where a worker___
(a) in a non-seasonal factory works for more than nine hours in any day or for more
than forty-eight hours in any week, or
(b) in a seasonal factory works for more than nine hours in any day or for more than
fifty hours in any week, ___
he shall be entitled in respect of the overtime worked to pay at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of
pay.]
1
Subs and omitted by the Finance Act, 2006 (Act No. III of 2006), s. 3.
2
Subs. by A. O., 1937.
3
Subs. by Act No. X of 1946. s. 7. (w. e. f. the 1st August, 1946).
Page 33 of 44
1
[Explanation.___In this sub-section, ‘ordinary rate of pay’ means all remuneration capable of
being expressed in terms of money which would, if the terms of the contract of employment, express
or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a worker in respect of his employment or of work done in such
employment, but does not include___
(i) the value of any house-accommodation, supply of light, water, medical
attendance or other amenity ;
(ii) any contribution paid by the employer to any pension fund or provident fund ;
(iii) any travelling allowance or the value of travelling concession ; or
(iv) any gratuity, bonus or share in the profits of the factory.]
(3) Where any workers are paid on a piece rate basis, the 2[Provincial Government] in
consultation with the industry concerned may for the purposes of this section fix time rates as nearly
as possible equivalent to the average rate of earnings of those workers, and the rates so fixed shall be
deemed to be the ordinary rates of those workers for the purposes of this section.
(4) The 2[Provincial Government) may prescribe the registers that shall be maintained in a
factory for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this section.
48. Restriction on double employment.___No adult worker shall be allowed to work in any
factory on any day on which he has already been working in any other factory, save in such
circumstances as may be prescribed.
49. Control of overlapping shifts.___The 2[Provincial Government] may make rules providing
that in any specified class or classes of factories work shall not be carried on by a system of shifts so
arranged that more than one relay of workers is engaged in work for the same kind at the same time
save with the permission of the 2[Provincial Government] and subject to such conditions as it may
impose, either generally or in the case of any particular factory.
3
[CHAPTER IVA
HOLIDAYS WITH PAY
49A. Application of Chapter.___(1) The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to a seasonal
factory.
(2) The provisions of this Chapter shall not operate to the prejudice of any rights to which a
worker may be entitled under any other enactment, or under the terms of any award, agreement or
contract of service.
1
Added by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 13.
2
Subs. by A.O., 1937.
3
Ins. by Act No. III of 1945, s. 3 (w. e. f. the 1st January, 1946).
Page 34 of 44
49B. Annual holidays.___(1) Every worker who has completed a period of twelve months
continuous service in a factory shall be allowed, during the subsequent period of twelve months,
holidays for a period of 1[* * *] fourteen consecutive days, inclusive of the day or days, if any, on
which he is entitled to a holiday under sub-section (1) of section 35.
(2) If a worker fails in any one such period of twelve months to take the whole of the holidays
allowed to him under sub-section (1), any holidays not taken by him shall be added to the holidays to
be allowed to him under sub-section (1) in the succeeding period of twelve months, so however that
the total number of days holidays which may be carried forward to a succeeding period shall not exceed
1
[* * *] fourteen.
(3) If a worker entitled to holidays under sub-section (1) is discharged by his employer before
he has been allowed the holidays, or if, having applied for and having been refused the holidays, he
quits his employment before he has been allowed the holidays, the employer shall pay him the amount
payable under section 49C in respect of the holidays.
Explanation.___A worker shall be deemed to have completed a period of twelve months
continuous service in a factory notwithstanding any interruption in service during those twelve months
brought about by sickness, accident or authorised leave not exceeding ninety days in the aggregate for
all three, or by a lock-out, or by a strike which is not an illegal strike, or by intermittent periods of
involuntary unemployment not exceeding thirty days in the aggregate ; and authorised leave shall be
deemed not to include any weekly holiday allowed under section 35 which occurs at beginning or end
of an interruption brought about by the leave.
49C. Pay during annual holidays___Without prejudice to the conditions governing the day or
days, if any, on which the worker is entitled to a holiday under sub-section (1) of section 35, the worker
shall, for the remaining days of the holidays allowed to him under section 49B, be paid at a rate
equivalent to the daily average of his wages as defined in the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, for the
days on which he actually worked during the preceding three months, exclusive of any earning in
respect of overtime.
49D. Payment when to be made.___A worker who has been allowed holidays under section
49B shall, before his holidays begin, be paid half the total pay due for the period of holidays.
49E. Power of Inspector to act for worker.___Any Inspector may institute proceedings on
behalf of any worker to recover any sum required to be paid under this Chapter by an employer which
the employer has not paid.
49F. Power to make rules.___(1) The Provincial Government may make rules to carry into
effect the provisions of this Chapter.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power rules may be made under this
section prescribing the keeping by employers of registers showing such particulars as may be
prescribed and requiring such registers to be made available for examination by Inspectors.
2
[* * * * * * *]
1
Omitted by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 14.
2
Omitted by A. O. 1964, Art. 2 and Sch.
Page 35 of 44
49G. Exemption of factories from the provisions of this Chapter.___Where the Provincial
Government is satisfied that the leave rules applicable to workers in a factory provide benefits
substantially similar to those for which this Chapter makes provision, it may, by written order, exempt
the factory from the provisions of this Chapter.]
1
[49H. Casual leave and sick leave.___(1) Every worker shall entitled to casual leave with full
pay for ten days in a year.
(2) Every worker shall be entitled to sixteen days’ sick leave on half average pay in a year.
49I. Festival holidays.___(1) Every worker shall be allowed holidays with pay on all days
declared by the Provincial Government to be festival holidays.
(2) A worker may be required to work on any festival holiday but one day additional
compensatory holiday with full pay and a substitute holiday shall be allowed to him in accordance
with the provisions of section 35.]
CHAPTER V
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN
50. Prohibition of employment of young children.___No child who has not completed his
2
[fourteenth] year shall be allowed to work in any factory.
51. Non-adult workers to carry tokens giving reference to certificates of fitness.___No child
who has completed his 2[fourteenth] year and no adolescent shall be allowed to work in any factory
unless___
(a) a certificate of fitness granted to him under section 52 is in the custody of the
manager of the factory, and
(b) he carries while he is at work a token giving a reference to such certificate.
52. Certificates of fitness.___(1) A certifying surgeon shall, on the application of any 1[child or
adolescent] who wishes to work in a factory, or of the parent or guardian of such person, or of the
manager of the factory in which such person wishes to work, examine such person and ascertain his
fitness for such work.
(2) The certifying surgeon, after examination, may grant to such person, in the prescribed
form,___
(a) a certificate of fitness to work in a factory as a child, if he is satisfied that such
person has completed his 2[fourteenth] year, that he has attained the prescribed
physical standards (if any), and that he is fit for such work ; or
1
Added and subs. by Act No. XVI of 1973, ss. 15 and 16.
2
Subs. by the Labour Laws (Amdt.) Act, 1977 (Act No. XVII of 1977), s. 2, Sch. 1.
Page 36 of 44
(b) a certificate of fitness to work in a factory as an adult, if he is satisfied that such
person has completed his fifteenth year and is fit for a full day’s work in a
factory.
(3) A certifying surgeon may revoke any certificate granted under sub-section (2) if, in his
opinion, the holder of it is no longer fit to work in the capacity stated therein in a factory.
(4) Where a certifying surgeon or a practitioner authorised under sub-section (2) of section 12
refuses to grant a certificate or a certificate of the kind requested, or revokes a certificate, he shall, if
so requested by any person who could have applied for the certificate, state his reasons in writing for
so doing.
53. Effect of certificate granted to adolescent.___(1) An adolescent who has been granted a
certificate of fitness to work in a factory as an adult, under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 52,
and who, while at work in a factory, carries a token giving reference to the certificate, shall be deemed
to be an adult for all the purposes of Chapter IV.
(2) An adolescent who has not been granted a certificate of fitness work in a factory as an adult
under sub-section (2) of section 52 shall, notwithstanding his age, be deemed to be a child for the
purposes of this Act.
54. Restrictions on the working hours of a child.___(1) No child shall be allowed to work in
a factory for more than five hours in any day.
(2) The hours of work of a child shall be so arranged that they shall not spread over more than
seven-and-a-half hours in any day.
(3) No child 1[or adolesent] shall be allowed to work in a factory except between 6 A. M. and
7 P.M. :
Provided that the 2[Provincial Government] may, by notification in the 2[official Gazette], in
respect of any class or classes of factories and for the whole year or any part of it, vary these limits to
any span of thirteen hours between 5 A. M. and 3[7-30 P.M.].
(4) The provisions of section 35 shall apply also to child workers, but no exemption from the
provisions of that section may be granted in respect of any child.
(5) No child shall be allowed to work in any factory on any day on which he has already been
working in another factory.
55. Notice of Periods for Work for Children.___(1) There shall be displayed and correctly
maintained in every factory in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 76, a Notice
of Periods for Work for Children, showing clearly the periods within which children may be required
to work.
1
Ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 17.
2
Subs by A. O. 1937.
3
Subs. by Act No. XIV of 1944), s. 5.
Page 37 of 44
(2) The periods shown in the Notice required by sub-section (1) shall be fixed beforehand in
accordance with the method laid down for adults in section 39 and shall be such that children working
for those periods would not be working in contravention of section 54.
(3) The provisions of section 40 shall apply also to the Notice of Periods for Work for Children.
(4) The 1[Provincial Government] may make rules prescribing forms for the Notice of Periods
for Work for Children and the manner in which it shall be maintained.
56. Register of Child Workers.___(1) The manager of every factory in which children are
employed shall maintain a Register of Child Workers showing___
(a) the name 2[and age] of each child worker in the factory
(b) the nature of his work,
(c) the group, if any, in which he is included,
(d) where his group works on shifts, the relay to which he is allotted,
(e) the number of his certificate of fitness granted under section 52, and
(f) such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(2) The 1[Provincial Government] may make rules prescribing the form of the Register of Child
Workers, the manner in which it shall be maintained and the period for which it shall be preserved.
57. Hours of work to correspond with Notice and Register.___No child shall be allowed to
work otherwise than in accordance with the Notice of Periods for Work for Children displayed under
sub-section (1) of section 55 and the entries made before hand against his name in the Register of Child
Workers maintained under sub-section (1) of section 56.
58. Power to require medical examination.___Where an Inspector is of opinion—
(a) that any person working in a factory without a certificate of fitness is a child or
an adolescent, or
(b) that a child or adolescent working in a factory with a certificate is no longer fit
to work in the capacity stated therein,
he may serve on the manager of the factory a notice requiring that such person, or that such child or
adolescent, as the case may be, shall be examined by a certifying surgeon or by a practitioner
authorised under sub-section (2) of section 12, and such person, child or adolescent shall not, if the
Inspector so directs, be allowed to work in any factory until he has been so examined and has been
granted a certificate of fitness or a fresh certificate of fitness, as the case may be.
1
Subs by A. O. 1937.
2
Ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s. 18.
Page 38 of 44
59. Power to make rules.___The 1[Provincial Government] may make rules___
(a) prescribing the forms of certificates of fitness to be granted under section 52,
providing for the grant of duplicates in the event of loss of original certificates,
and fixing the fees which may be charged for such certificates and such
duplicates ;
(b) prescribing the physical standards to be attained by children and adolescents ;
(c) regulating the procedure of certifying surgeons under this Chapter, and
specifying other duties which they may be required to perform in connection
with the employment of children and adolescents in factories ; and
(d) providing for any other matter which may be expedient in order to give effect
to the provisions of this Chapter.
2
[59A. Provisions to be in addition to Act XXVI of 1938.___The provisions of this Chapter shall
be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions of the Employment of Children Act, 1938
(XXVI of 1938)] .
CHAPTER VI
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
60. Penalty for contraventions of Act and rules.___If in any factory—
(a) there is any contravention___
(i) of any of the provisions of sections 13 to 3[32] inclusive, or
(ii) of any order made under any of the said sections, or
(iii) of any of the said sections read with rules made in pursuance thereof
under 3[section 33J] or
(iv) of any rules made under any of the said sections or under 3[sections 33J
and 33Q], or
(v) of any condition imposed under sub-section (3) of section 3[33P], or
(b) any person is allowed to work in contravention___
(i) of any of the provisions of sections 34 to 38 inclusive, 42, 45 4[,48, 49H
and 49I], or
1
Subs by A. O. 1937.
2
Subs. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s, 19.
3
Subs. by the Labour Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1972 (Ordinance No. IX of 1972), s. 2, Sch. 1.
4
Subs. by the Labour Laws (Amdt.) Act, 1975 (Act No. XI of 1975), s.2 and Sch.
Page 39 of 44
(ii) of any rule made under any of the said sections, or under section 49, or
(iii) of any condition attached or any exemption granted under section 43 or
section 44 or section 45 or to any permission granted under section 38
or section 49, or
(c) there is any contravention of any of the provisions of sections 39 to 41 inclusive
or of any rule made under section 39, section 41 or section 47, or of any
condition attached to any exemption granted under section 41 or to any
modification or relaxation made under section 44, or
(d) any person is not paid any extra pay to which he is entitled under the provisions
of section 47, or
(e) any adolescent or child is allowed to work in contravention of any of the
provisions of sections 50, 51, 54, 55, 57 and 58, or
(f) there is any contravention of section 55 or section 56 or of any rules made under
either of these sections, or under clause (d) of section 59, 1[or]
1
[(g) there is any contravention of section 49B, 49C, or 49D, or of any rule made
under section 49F,]
the manager and occupier of the factory shall each be punishable with fine
which may extend to five hundred rupees :
Provided that if both the manager and the occupier are convicted, the aggregate of the fines
inflicted in respect of the same contravention shall not exceed this amount.
61. Enhanced penalty in certain cases after previous conviction. If any person who has been
convicted at any offence punishable under clauses (b) to 2[(g)] inclusive of section 60 is again guilty
of an offence Involving a contravention of the same provision, he shall be punishable on the second
conviction with fine which may extend to seven hundred and fifty rupees and shall not be less than
one hundred rupees, and if he is again so guilty, shall be punishable on the third or any subsequent
conviction with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees and shall not be less than two hundred
and fifty rupees :
Provided that for the purposes of this section no cognizance shall be taken of any conviction
made more than two years before the commission of the offence which is being punished :
Provided further that the Court, if it is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances
warranting such a course, may, after recording its reasons writing, impose a smaller fine than is
required by this section.
1
Added and ins. by Act No. III of 1945, s. 4. (w. e. f. the 1st January, 1946).
2
Subs. by Act No. III of 1945, s.5.
Page 40 of 44
62. Penalty for failure to give notice of commencement of work or of change of manager.
___
An occupier of a factory who fails to give any notice required by sub-section (1) 1[,sub-section (1A)]
or sub-section (2) of section 9 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
63. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.___Whoever wilfully obstructs an Inspector in the
exercise of any power under section 11, or fails to produce on demand by an Inspector any registers or
other documents in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act or of any of the rules made there-under,
or conceals or prevents any worker in a factory from appearing before or being examined by an
Inspector, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
64. Penalty for failure to give notice of accidents.___A manager of a factory who fails to give
notice of an accident as required under section 2[33N] shall be punishable with fine which may extend
to five hundred rupees.
65. Penalty for failure to make returns.___If in respect of any factory any return is not
furnished as required under section 77, the manager and the occupier of the factory shall each be liable
to fine which may extend to five hundred rupees :
Provided that if both the manager and the occupiers are convicted, the aggregate of the fines
inflicted shall not exceed this amount.
66. Penalty for smoking or using naked light in vicinity of inflammable material.
___
Whoever smokes, or uses a naked light or causes or permits any such light to be used in the vicinity
of any inflammable material in a factory shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five
hundred rupees.
Exception.___This provision does not extend to the use, in accordance with such precautions as
may be prescribed, of a naked light in the course of a manufacturing process.
67. Penalty for using false certificate.___Whoever knowingly uses or attempts to use, as a
certificate granted to himself under section 52, a certificate granted to another person under that
section, or who, having procured such a certificate, knowingly allows it to be used, or an attempt to
use it to be made, by another person, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty rupees.
68. Penalty on guardian for permitting double employment of a child.___lf a child works in
a factory on any day on which he has already been working in another factory, the parent or guardian
of the child or the person having custody of or control over him, or obtaining any direct benefit from
his wages, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty rupees, unless it appears to the
Court that the child so worked without the consent, connivance or wilful default of such parent,
guardian or person.
69. Penalty for failure to display certain notices.___A manager of a factory who fails to
display the notice required under sub-section (1) of section 76 or by any rule made under this Act, or
to display or maintain any such notice as required by sub-section (2) of that section, shall be punishable
with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
1
Ins. by Act No. XVI of 1973, s.20.
2
Subs. by the Labour Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1972 (Ordinance, No. IX of 1972), s. 2, Sch. 1.
Page 41 of 44
70 Determination of “occupier” for purposes of this Chapter.___(1) Where the occupier of
a factory is a firm or other association of individuals, any one of the individual partners or members
thereof may be prosecuted and punished under this Chapter for any offence for which the occupier of
the factory is punishable :
Provided that the firm or association may give notice to the Inspector that it has nominated one
of its number who is resident in 1[Pakistan] to be the occupier of the factory for the purposes of this
Chapter, and such individual shall so long as he is so resident be deemed to be the occupier for the
purposes of this Chapter until further notice cancelling his nomination is received by the Inspector or
until he ceases to be a partner or member of the firm or association.
(2) Where the occupier of a factory is a company, any one of the directors thereof, or, in the
case of a private company, any one of the shareholders thereof, may be prosecuted and punished under
this Chapter for any offence for which the occupier of the factory is punishable :
Provided that the company may give notice to the Inspector that it has nominated a director, or,
in the case of a private company, a shareholder, who is resident in either case in 1[Pakistan] to be the
occupier of the factory for the purposes of this Chapter, and such director or shareholder shall so long
as he is so resident be deemed to be the occupier of the factory for the purposes of this Chapter until
further notice cancelling his nomination is received by the Inspector or until he ceases to be a director
or shareholder.
71. Exemption of occupier or manager from liability in certain cases.___(1) Where the
occupier or manager of a factory is charged with an offence against this Act, he shall be entitled upon
complaint duly made by him to have any other person whom he charges as the actual offender brought
before the Court at the time appointed for hearing the charge ; and if, after the commission of the
offence has been proved, the occupier or manager of the factory proves to the satisfaction of the
Court___
(a) that he has used due diligence to enforce the execution of this Act, and
(b) that the said other person committed the offence in question without his
knowledge, consent or connivance,
that other person shall be convicted of the offence and shall be liable to the like
fine as if he were the occupier or manager, and the occupier or manager shall be
discharged from any liability under this Act.
(2) When it is made to appear to the satisfaction of the Inspector at any time prior to the
institution of the proceedings___
(a) that the occupier or manager of the factory has used all due diligence to enforce
the execution of this Act, and
(b) by what person the offence has been committed, and
1
Subs. by the Central Laws (Statue Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (Ordinance No. XXI of 1960), s. 3, Sch. 2. (w. e. f. the 14th October, 1955).
Page 42 of 44
(c) that it has been committed without the knowledge, consent or connivance of the
occupier or manager, and in contravention of his orders,
the Inspector shall proceed against the person whom he believes to be the actual
offender without first proceeding against the occupier or manager of the factory,
and such person shall be liable to the like fine as if he were the occupier or
manager.
72. Presumption as to employment.___If a child over the age of six years is found inside any
part of a factory in which children are working, he shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be
working in the factory.
73. Evidence as to age.___(1) When an act or omission would, if a person were under or over
a certain age, be an offence punishable under this Act, and such person is in the opinion of the Court
apparently under or over such age, the burden shall be on the accused to prove that such person is not
under or over such age.
(2) A declaration in writing by a certifying surgeon relating to a worker that he has personally
examined him and believes him to be under or over the age set forth in such declaration shall, for the
purposes of this Act, be admissible as evidence of the age of that worker.
74. Cognizance of offences.___(1) No prosecution under this Act, except a prosecution under
section 66, shall be instituted except by or with the previous sanction of the Inspector.
(2) No Court inferior to that 1[* * *] of a Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence
against this Act or any rule or order made thereunder, other than an offence under section 66 or section
67.
2
[* * * * * * *]
75. Limitation of prosecutions.___No Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this
Act or any rule or order thereunder, other than an offence under section 62 or section 64, unless
complaint thereof is made within six months of the data on which the offence is alleged to have been
committed.
Provided that when the offence consists of disobeying a written order made by an Inspector,
complaint thereof may be made within twelve months of the date on which the offence is alleged to
have been committed.
CHAPTER VII
SUPPLEMENTAL
76. Display of factory notices.___(1) In addition to the notices required to be displayed in any
factory by this Act or the rules made thereunder, there shall be displayed in every factory a notice
containing such abstracts of this Act and of the rules made thereunder, in English and in the vernacular
of the majority of the workers as the 3[Provincial Government] may prescribe.
1
Repealed by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Act, 1951 (Act No. XVI of 1951), s. 3, Sch. 2.
2
Omitted by Act. No. XVI of 1973, s.21.
3
Subs. by A. O. 1937.
Page 43 of 44
(2) All notices required to be displayed in a factory shall be displayed at some conspicuous
place at or near the main entrance to the factory, and shall be maintained in a clean and legible
condition.
77. Power of Provincial Government to make rules.___The 1[Provincial Government] may
make rules requiring occupiers or managers of factories to submit such returns occasional or periodical,
as may in 1[its] opinion be required for the purposes of this Act.
78. 1[Repealed]
79. Publication of rules.___(1) All rules made under this Act shall be subject to the condition
of previous publication, and the date to be specified under clause (3) of section 23 of the General
Clauses Act, 1897 (X of 1897), shall not be less than three months from the date on which the draft of
the proposed rules was published.
(2) All such rules shall be published in 1[* * *] the 1[official Gazette] 1[* * *] and shall, unless
some later date is appointed, come into force on the date of such publication.
80. Application to Government factories. This Act shall apply to factories belonging to the
2
[Government].
81. Protection to persons acting under this Act. No suit, prosecution or other legal
proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done
under this Act.
82. 3[Repealed]
3
[Repealed]
___________
DATED. 05-05-2025
1
Subs., repealed and omitted by A. O., 1937.
2
Subs. by A. O. 1961, Art. 2, (w. e. f. the 23rd March 1956).
3
Repealed by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1937 (Act No. XX of 1937), s. 3 and 2nd Sch.
Page 44 of 44
Source: Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice (pakistancode.gov.pk). Text on this page is reproduced verbatim from the official PDF and is provided for reference only. For the authoritative version, always consult the source document or a current reported edition.
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