Question

Which of the following acts has a direct relevance for grievance handling practices?

• A. The Industrial Disputes Act
• B. Factories Act
• C. The Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Act
• D. all the above

Hint:

While the Industrial Disputes Act provides the main framework for dispute resolution, remember that other key labor laws like the Factories Act and the Standing Orders Act also contain important provisions for welfare and pre-dispute grievance handling at the establishment level.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks which of the listed labor laws are directly relevant to grievance handling practices in an industrial establishment.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the relevance of each Act:
- (A) The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947: This Act is fundamentally about resolving industrial disputes. Section 9C of the Act specifically provides for a Grievance Redressal Machinery in every industrial establishment employing twenty or more workmen. So, it is directly relevant.
- (B) Factories Act, 1948: This Act deals with the health, safety, and welfare of workers. It requires the appointment of Welfare Officers (in factories with 500 or more workers) whose duties often include handling worker grievances. Thus, it has relevance.
- (C) The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946: This Act requires employers to define conditions of employment. The model standing orders under the Act contain clauses for a grievance redressal mechanism that a workman can follow. It has a very direct relevance.
Since all three acts contain provisions that either establish or facilitate grievance handling practices, the most appropriate answer is "all the above".
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Industrial Disputes Act, the Factories Act, and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act all contain provisions directly related to or establishing mechanisms for grievance handling in industrial settings. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.