Occupational Health and Safety Concerns in the Home Based Textile Sector of Uttar Pradesh: A Legal Analysis
Author : Aishwarya and Dr. Praveen Kumar Mall
Abstract :
In Uttar Pradesh home based textile especially those located in Varanasi, Kanpur and Meerut has had the following impacts to the economy of the state; provision of employment to the needy especially the women. However, this informal sector has OHS risks that are associated with it. The employees experience hazardous chemicals, low essential air, and pressure of working on certain body parts, without adequate equipment or wrench giving them both medical and psychological adversities. Even if some legal protection was established by the Indian government in the form of the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020 and the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, they remain hardly enforced in unfinished home-based employment. These two issues are major research questions of this study because they investigate the disparities between the legal frameworks and practice, how home-based workers are barred from certain labour standards and the difficulties of policing work environments in private homes. It also stresses the fact that health insurance and occupational hazard benefits, social security have to be extended to the informal workers. Therefore there is the proposal to amend the acts to ensure that home based workers are provided for, there should be provisions that will encourage formulation of policy on health and safety, and the implementation mechanisms should be strengthened. Finally, it pays much attention to the emergence of organizations within the community and local authorities in raising awareness of legal requirements and legal obligations in regard to OHS standards. Therefore, a detailed numerical analysis is necessary to assess the effects of legal changes on this vulnerable workforce and more permanent solutions for enhancing the quality of working environment.
Keywords :
Home-based workers, Occupational health and safety, Informal sector, Textile industry, Social security, Women workers etc.
