MANUAL-1 

Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties

[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]

1) Aims & Objectives of the Organization:

The primary aims and objectives of the Labour Directorate of the State are:

a) To maintain Industrial peace and harmony for boosting up production and productivity of the Industrial Organization and to have a contented work force.
b) To protect the working class from exploitation.

2) Mission/Vision:

a) The vision of this Directorate is to make the state free from any loss of production in any industry caused due to strike/ lockout.
b) Quick redressal of the grievances of the workers.
c) Implementation of the provisions of different Labour Laws ensuring payment of Minimum Wages and Regulating working conditions of the workers.

3) Brief History and Background for its Establishment:

      The Royal Commission on Labour in India (1931) advocated the appointment of a Labour Commissioner under each of the then provincial and the Central Government stating the great majority of questions relating to labor administration can be dealt within each Government by a singly office. Following this recommendation, the Government of India appointed on 9^th April 1945, a Chief Labour Commissioner with some field staff charged mainly with the duties of prevention and settlement of industrial disputes, enforcement of labour laws and promotion of labour welfare in the Industries and Undertakings owned or controlled by the Central Government, the then Federal Railways and in the Mines, Oil Fields and Major Ports. Along with the Chief Labour Commissioner, the Central Government appointed three Regional Labour Commissioners at Bombay, Calcutta and Lahore, eight Conciliation Officers and 24 Labour Inspectors in 1945. With the implementation of the Five Year Programmes on Labour Legislation and Administration by the First National Government (1947-52), the work of the organization and administration increased appreciably necessitating the strengthening of the field staff. Accordingly, two more Regional Offices were set up in 1947 at Dhanbad with jurisdiction over Bihar, Central Provinces and Berrar and the Coal Fields of West Bengal and Madras with jurisdiction over Madras and Coorg. Later on, in 1951, two more Regional Offices were set up at Ajmer and Nagpur. After the scrutiny and work study by the S.R.U. the organization underwent further changes. The set up in 1968 consisted of a Chief Labour Commissioner in New Delhi and 9 Regional Labour Commissioners at Ajmer, Assansol, Bombay, Calcutta, Dhanbad, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Kanpur and Madras. The Central Government also sanctioned on the 24^th September 1968 creation of a new region with headquarters at Rourkela. But subsequently its headquarters was located at Bhubaneswar instead of Rourkela. The jurisdiction was confined to Odisha State together with Singhbhum district of Bihar. Thereafter, with effect from the 1^st April 1969 the headquarters of Singhbhum district was transferred to Dhanbad region. In subsequent years, further strengthening of the staff has been done in the Central sphere.

     After coming into force of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 with effect from April 1948, the Government of Odisha appointed the Director of Industries as ex-Officio Labour Commissioner in the year 1950. With the growth of labour problems and coming into force of various labour legislations, Government by resolution dated the 13^th January 1953 created a separate post of the Labour Commissioner-cum-Chief Inspector of Factories, with effect from the 1^st April 1953. The Labour Commissioner-cum-Chief Inspector of Factories was also declared as the Chief Inspector of Boilers, Chief Surveyor of Inland Steam Vessels and Registrar of Trade Unions.

     The Office of the Chief Inspector of Factories was bifurcated from the Labour Directorate in the month of October 1963. Since the 31^st March 1967 Government to ensure effective implementation of the various labour laws, by resolution dated the 31^st May 1967, abolished the Office of the Chief Inspector of Factories as Head of the Office and merged it with the Office of the Labour Commissioner, Odisha.