Project Report on Relieving System and Worker Well-Being

at ITC Ltd., Trichy

Introduction
Industrial establishments depend not only on technology and machinery but also on the
efficiency, health, and satisfaction of workers. The Factories Act, 1948 was enacted with the
central objective of ensuring that workers employed in factories are provided with adequate
health, safety, and welfare measures. It recognizes that workers are not just units of production
but human beings who require facilities to maintain their physical and mental well-being.
One important aspect of industrial welfare is the relieving system, which refers to the practice of
allowing workers short breaks during working hours to attend to their essential needs such as
food, drinking water, restrooms, lockers, ventilation, and in the case of women workers, access
to crèche facilities. The relieving system plays a dual role: on the one hand, it ensures that
workers have the opportunity to rest and refresh themselves, and on the other hand, it ensures
that production is not hampered by the absence of workers from their workstations.
This project attempts to study the well-being facilities provided under the Factories Act and
connect them with the functioning of relieving systems in industrial settings such as ITC Ltd.,
Trichy. It further discusses how relieving time can be calculated realistically and fairly.
Worker Well-Being under the Factories Act, 1948
The Factories Act places strong emphasis on welfare provisions to secure the dignity, comfort,
and safety of workers. The well-being measures cover a wide range of areas such as cleanliness,
ventilation, drinking water, urinals, canteens, restrooms, locker rooms, and crèche facilities. Each
of these facilities has its own importance in ensuring that workers remain healthy and productive.
Cleanliness
Section 11 of the Factories Act makes cleanliness a legal obligation for factory management.
Clean workplaces reduce the spread of disease, minimize absenteeism, and create a safe and
hygienic environment for workers. Factories are required to maintain clean floors, remove waste,
and prevent accumulation of dust and fumes. The concern here is that an unclean factory not only
affects worker morale but also causes health hazards that reduce efficiency.
Ventilation and Temperature
Section 13 deals with the regulation of ventilation and temperature inside the workplace.
Factories are required to ensure sufficient flow of fresh air and prevent excessive heat
accumulation. This is particularly important in industries with furnaces, boilers, or other heat-
generating processes. Poor ventilation can lead to fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration,
which in turn affect productivity.
Drinking Water
Section 18 mandates the provision of safe and accessible drinking water. Factories must place
drinking water points conveniently near working areas and mark them clearly. If workers have to
walk long distances to access water, they lose time and energy. Therefore, the availability of
water within short distances is directly linked to effective relieving time.
Urinals and Latrines
Section 19 requires every factory to provide sufficient and separate urinals and latrines for male
and female workers. They should be ventilated, kept clean, and well-maintained. In practice, the
adequacy of these facilities determines how much time a worker spends in relieving themselves.
A shortage of urinals leads to long waiting times, increasing total relieving time.
Washing Facilities
Section 42 provides that workers should have proper washing facilities near urinals and latrines.
This ensures hygiene and prevents the spread of infections. Adequate washing facilities also
mean workers can quickly return to their duties without delay.
Locker Rooms and Changing Rooms
Section 43 deals with the provision of locker rooms or changing facilities. In many industries,
workers are required to wear uniforms or protective clothing. Lockers allow them to store
personal belongings and change comfortably. If lockers are placed far away or insufficient in
number, workers spend unnecessary time accessing them, which extends the relieving period.
Rest Rooms
Section 47 mandates the provision of rest rooms for workers who work for long hours or perform
physically demanding tasks. The objective is to provide space for recovery and relaxation. Rest
rooms also support relieving patterns, especially during long shifts, by offering workers a space
to regain energy.
Canteen Facilities
Section 46 makes it compulsory for factories employing more than 250 workers to provide
canteens. Workers require access to nutritious and hygienic meals during their shift. If canteens
are inadequate or overcrowded, workers may spend a long time waiting in queues, increasing the
total relieving time. Efficient canteen management thus has a direct impact on how quickly
workers can return to production.

Crèche Facilities
Section 48 mandates the establishment of crèches in factories that employ more than 30 women
workers. The purpose is to ensure that women with young children are not forced to choose
between employment and childcare. Easy access to crèches and flexibility in visiting them forms
part of the relieving system for women workers.
First Aid and Medical Facilities
Section 45 requires factories to maintain first-aid boxes and ambulance rooms in case of
emergencies. While this may not form part of daily relieving patterns, it is an essential welfare
provision that ensures workers feel secure at their workplace.
Relieving System in Industrial Establishments
The relieving system refers to the process of permitting workers to temporarily leave their
workstation to attend to personal needs, while ensuring that production is not interrupted. The
system is important because workers cannot be expected to remain continuously at their
workstations for long hours without breaks.
In large factories such as ITC, the relieving system is usually managed by supervisors or human
resource managers. They ensure that workers are able to attend to their needs such as using the
restroom, drinking water, visiting the canteen, or using locker rooms, while temporary relievers
or floaters handle the worker’s duties in the meantime.
The concern in designing an effective relieving system is two-fold: first, to maintain the dignity
and comfort of workers by allowing them reasonable time for essential needs; second, to ensure
that the workflow of production does not stop due to worker absence. Striking this balance is the
responsibility of management.
Use Standard Allowances from Factories Act and Industry Practices
 Factories Act, 1948 itself gives a clue: workers cannot work more than 5 hours without
a break of 30 minutes.
 Tea breaks are usually 10–15 minutes, and restroom usage is expected at least 2–3 times
per shift (around 5–7 minutes each).
 Drinking water is a very short activity, usually 2–3 minutes.
Estimate Time Based on Facility Distance
Relieving time can be broken down as:
Relieving Time = Walking Time + Waiting Time + Activity Time
 Walking Time: Estimate how long it takes to reach the restroom/canteen/locker from the
production line. (For example, if it takes 1–2 minutes to walk to the restroom, add that to
the calculation).
 Waiting Time: If facilities are limited, assume 1–2 minutes of waiting. If there are many
facilities, waiting time may be zero.
 Activity Time: Standard time for using restroom (5 minutes), eating lunch (30 minutes),
having tea (10 minutes), etc.

Section of
Welfare Facility Purpose / Concern
Factories Act

Maintain hygiene, reduce health risks, create

Sec. 11 Cleanliness
safe working environment.

Ventilation & Ensure fresh air circulation, prevent fatigue

Sec. 13
Temperature and heat stress.

Provide safe, accessible water to prevent

Sec. 18 Drinking Water
dehydration and illness.

Sec. 19 Urinals & Latrines Adequate and separate facilities, reduce

Section of
Welfare Facility Purpose / Concern
Factories Act

waiting time, promote dignity.

Maintain personal hygiene, prevent

Sec. 42 Washing Facilities
infections.

Locker Rooms & Provide secure storage and reduce

Sec. 43
Changing unnecessary delays.

Provide hygienic and nutritious meals, avoid

Sec. 46 Canteen Facilities
fatigue and long queues.

Space for recovery and relaxation during

Sec. 47 Rest Rooms
long shifts.

Support working mothers, allow childcare

Sec. 48 Crèche Facilities
without loss of employment.

Provide medical security and immediate

Sec. 45 First Aid emergency response
Conclusion
The Factories Act, 1948 lays down a comprehensive framework for ensuring the welfare of
workers. The relieving system, when aligned with these provisions, helps in balancing human
dignity with organizational productivity. By providing adequate facilities such as restrooms,
canteens, drinking water, and crèche facilities, factories ensure that workers can meet their
essential needs without extended disruption of work.
The calculation of relieving time is not about rigid monitoring but about understanding the
average requirements of workers and designing facilities in such a way that time loss is
minimized. A humane and efficient relieving system leads to higher worker satisfaction, reduced
fatigue, and improved production efficiency.