Protection of the well-being of workers is more important than mere payment of wages with a view to increasing productivity. Substantiate the statement referring to relevant provisions of the Factories Act, 1948.

The main objective of the Factories Act, 1948 is to ensure adequate safety measures but also to promote health and welfare of the workers employed in factories as well as to prevent haphazard growth of factories. Factories Act, 1948 is legislated to lay guidelines on working conditions in factories including leaves, working hours, holidays, etc. It also ensures health, safety and welfare measures of workers in factories. The welfare measures are defined under Section 42 to 50 of Factories Act, 1948, viz, washing facilities, facilities for storing & drying clothes, sitting facilities, first aid appliances, canteen, shelters, rest rooms & lunch rooms, crèches and welfare officers. There are other provisions in the Act which deals with health measures including cleanliness, ventilation, lightning, drinking water, latrines & urinal, etc., safety measure includes fencing, lifting, casing of machinery, employment of young workers with dangerous machines, etc. This Act also focuses on hazardous process by industries and the level of chemical substances permissible in work environment. The Act contains provisions regarding hazardous process, constitution of Site Appraisal Committee, compulsory disclosure of Information, appointing competent person in handling hazardous substances, etc.