/447

Statement of Objects and Reasons.-The Indian Dock Labourers Act, 1934 (19 of 1934), the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948 (9 of 1948), and the Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Scheme, 1961, framed under the later Act, inter alia, deal with the matters relating to the protection against accident of workers employed in loading and unloading ships, employment of dock workers and safety, health and welfare of dock workers. Thus, the law relating to the said matters is, at present, contained in more than one Act.

2. In view of the experience gained by the working of these Acts and the said Scheme, it is felt that with a view to serving the interests of the dock workers more effectively, the law relating to safety, health and welfare of the said workers, as far as practicable, be contained in a single Act. Accordingly, the proposed Bill provides for the safety, health and welfare of dock workers and for matters connected therewith.

3. The Bill, among other things, seeks, inter alia, to-

(a) provide for the safety, health and welfare of dock workers in respect of all ports and all ships;

(b) enlarge the definitions of "dock work " and "dock workers " so as to widen the scope of protection.

(c) specify that the appropriate Government shall be, in relation to any major port, the Central Government, and, in relation to any other port, the State Government concerned;

(d) provide for the appointment of Chief Inspector and Inspectors of Dock Safety with appropriate powers for enforcing the provisions of the proposed legislation.

(e) provide for the constitution of advisory committees to advise upon matters arising out of the administration of the proposed legislation;

(f) empower the appropriate Government to direct inquiry into cases of accidents and diseases;

(g) lay down obligations of the dock workers in following certain safety practices;

(h) empower the appropriate Government to exempt any port or ship from the provisions of the proposed legislation subject to such conditions as it thinks fit;

(i) provide for appropriate punishment for offences against the proposed legislation and also to provide for enhanced punishments in the case of second and subsequent conviction and further to provide for certain minimum punishment in certain cases;

(j) provide for the repeal of the Indian Dock Labourers Act, 1934 (19 of 1934), and to make necessary consequential amendments in the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948 (9 of 1948).

[7th December, 1986]

An Act to provide for the safety, health and welfare of dock workers and for matters connected therewith.

Be it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

Brought into force on 15.4.1987 vide G.S.R. 399(E), dated 15.4.1987.