Haryana Labour Welfare Fund: Applicability, Contribution, Rules, Benefits

In India, 16 states have enacted the Labour Welfare Fund Act. One of the 16 states is Haryana, which has adopted and implemented the Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965 (‘Act’). The Act provides social security and other benefits for the welfare of workers and labourers in the Haryana state.

Haryana Labour Welfare Fund

The Haryana Government constituted a Haryana Labour Welfare Board (‘Board’) under the Act with the object of constituting a Haryana Labour Welfare Fund (‘Fund’) for financing and conducting activities to promote the welfare of workers and labourers in the Haryana State.

Accordingly, the Haryana Labour Welfare Fund was established in Haryana state. All employers and workers covered under the Act must contribute a certain amount to the Fund monthly. The employer, along with his/her contribution, will deduct the contribution amount from the salaries or wages of the workers and pay on their behalf to the Fund. The Board utilises these contributions to conduct activities and implement labour benefit schemes for the workers.

Haryana Labour Welfare Fund rules

The Haryana Government has adopted the Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Rules. These rules provide the manner of collecting contributions to be paid for the Fund, notice for payment of unpaid accumulations and fines by the Welfare Commissioner, meetings of the Board, investment of Fund amount, maintenance of audit and accounts of the Fund, application of the Fund money, etc. The Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act and Rules extend to the entire state of Haryana. 

Haryana Labour Welfare Fund applicability

The Act covers the following establishments in Haryana:

• All establishments or employers employing 10 or more persons, including:
  • A factory established under the Factories Act, 1948
  • A motor omnibus service 
• Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, charitable or other trusts employing more than twenty persons

The Act covers all employees who are employed for hire or reward directly, through an agency or as a contractor for remuneration in the establishments mentioned above to do any skilled, unskilled, clerical or manual work. 

Haryana Labour Welfare Fund contribution

The frequency of contribution to the Haryana Labour Welfare Fund is monthly. Thus, the employers covered under the Act must pay the employer and employee contribution (deducted from the employee’s salary) to the Fund every month and file the returns with the Board on the last day of every month. 

The amount of deduction or amount paid towards the Haryana Labour Welfare Fund is as follows:

• Employee: 0.2% of the salary, wages or remuneration up to a maximum of Rs.31
• Employer: Twice the amount of employee contribution up to a maximum of Rs.62
• Maximum total contribution per employee: Rs.93 

Haryana Labour Welfare Fund benefits

The Board utilises the money in the Fund for the following activities for the benefit of workers:

• Community and social education centres, including reading rooms and libraries
• Community necessities
• Games and sports
• Excursions, tours and holiday homes
• Entertainment and other forms of recreation
• Home industries and subsidiary occupations for women and unemployed persons
• Corporate activities of a social nature
• Cost of administering this Act, including any allowances payable to the Chairman and Board members and the allowances and salaries of the staff appointed under the Act
• Such other activities which would improve the standard of living and facilitate the social conditions of labour.

The Board is also running various welfare schemes. The workers and labourers who have contributed to the Fund can get the benefits provided under the welfare schemes administered by the Board when they fulfill the eligibility criteria. The list of schemes is as follows:

• Providing financial assistance for purchasing books, school uniforms and copies to the workers’ children up to Rs.4,000
• Scholarship scheme to workers’ children from 9th standard till degree to complete their studies. The amount of scholarship differs depending on the class the children are studying.
• Providing financial assistance to workers for their children’s participation in sports competitions. The amount differs depending on whether the competition is group or individual in the District, Mandal, State, National or International level.
• Providing financial assistance to workers for their children’s participation in cultural competitions. The amount differs depending on whether the competition is group or individual in the District, Mandal, State, National or International level.
• Financial assistance of Rs.3,000 for purchasing a new cycle for a worker
• Financial assistance for spectacles of up to Rs.1,500 for a worker
• Financial assistance in the form of Kanyadaan to the women workers for their own marriage and the daughters of workers of Rs.51,000
• Financial assistance for delivery of women workers and wives of male workers of Rs.10,000
• Financial assistance in case of disability due to an accident or other reason during the service of the workers of Rs.1,00,000 for minor disability and Rs.1,50,000 for major disability
• Financial assistance to workers and their dependents for dental care of Rs.4,000 and Rs.10,000 for dentures.
• Financial assistance for artificial limbs to workers and their dependents who are disabled due to accidents as per the rates fixed by Saket Hospital, Panchkula
• Financial assistance for hearing machines to deaf workers and their dependents of up to Rs.5,000
• Financial assistance to women workers to buy new sewing machines for domestic use of Rs.3,500
• Financial assistance for tricycles to disabled workers and their dependents of up to Rs.7,000 after losing their legs in an accident or any other reason 
• Financial assistance providing Leave Travel Concession (LTC) facility to workers of Rs.1,500
• Financial assistance to disabled (blind, deaf, mute and mentally retarded) children of workers of Rs.20,000 per year for 70% to 90% disability and Rs.30,000 per year for 91% to 100% disability
• Financial assistance to widows or dependents of deceased workers of Rs.2,00,000 or Rs.5,00,000 in case of scheme availed under Mukhya Mantri Shramik Suraksha Yojna.
• Financial assistance for cremation and other activities in the case of the death of a worker due to any reason outside the workplace of Rs.15,000
• Financial assistance of Rs.20,000 for entrance exam coaching for professional courses, Rs.20,000 for UPSC, and Rs.1,00,000 to the children of workers for the preparation of the main examination after passing the HPSC preliminary examination

The Haryana Labour Welfare Board administers the above schemes. Any worker or labourer who has contributed to the Haryana Labour Welfare Fund under the Act can take the benefits provided under these schemes by applying for them on the Labour Department Haryana website. These schemes provide financial assistance for workers and help them to lead a financially and socially secure life.