CHAPTER VI WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE WOMEN WORKERS IN THE MATCH INDUSTRY

CHAPTER VI WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE WOMEN WORKERS IN THE MATCH INDUSTRY The main focus of this chapter is on a full scrutiny of women worker s working conditions in the match industry, covering employment, work type, reason for choosing this job, previous employment, payment types, wage, number of working days and the like. The analysis is done with the help of the formulated tables from the primary data. 6.1 Nature of Work Match industry mainly depends on the workers and the use of machinery is negligible when compared to the other industries. The skills of the workers play a major role in the production as there are many types of work involved in these factories. The earnings of the workers also vary according to their skills. Tus the nature of work done by each respondent is studied and the same is presented in Table 6.1.

227 TABLE 6.1 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NATURE OF WORK Work Type No.of Respondents Percentage Inner box making 78 26.00 Outer box making 11 3.70 Frame filling 150 50.00 Box filling 61 20.30 Total 300 100.00 Source: Survey data. Table 6.1 reveals the distribution of respondents by nature of work. Out of 300 respondents the majority of the respondents 50.00 per cent have involved themselves in frame filling followed by inner box making by 26 per cent, box filling by 20.30 per cent and 3.70 per cent only in the case of outer box making. Further, it is observed from the field that, audio facilities were provided by the employees to make the women work fast, hearing audio simultaneously while match making without any disruption. Thus, the art of match making is internalised in the system which helps them to make matches with normal speed and also hear audio. This is the lone entertainment that the match makers have for them. In fact, the loudness with which the Tamil film songs were played acts as a catalyst in the whole working process.

228 It can be inferred that majority of the respondents 49.8 per cent have involved themselves in frame filling. TABLE 6.2 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT Nature of Employment No.of Respondents Percentage Regular 299 99.70 Casual 1 0.30 Total 300 100.00 Table 6.2 explains the distribution of respondents according to nature of employment either regular or casual. Out of 300 respondents the majority 99.70 per cent are regular workers and the remaining 0.30 per cent are casual workers. It is clear that most employers are very sympathetic and considerate in regularizing most of the workers. In addition to that women are generally considered to be sincere, hard working and easy to control. The reason for regular work position of the respondents shows that, there is no other source of work. From the data it is inferred that 99.70 per cent of the respondents are belonging to regular employment.

229 6.2 Reason for Choosing Job In the male dominated Indian society women are not even allowed to climb up in the professional ladder, whatever the talent and sincerity possessed by them. Being women, irrespective of their accomplishment they have to work under male bosses. Almost all women labourers have come from poor families, where their earnings are essential to the survival of their families. And nearly one half of the workers were interested in supporting their family. Table 6.3 illustrates the distribution of respondents on the basis of selection of the job. Out of 300 respondents, the majority 64 per cent have chosen this job just for the income. 35.70 per cent of the respondents consider the income as a supplement to the family income and only 0.30 per cent have taken up the work for spending time. The details are supplied below: TABLE 6.3 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY REASONS FOR CHOOSING THIS JOB Reason for Choosing this Job No.of Respondents Percentage To avoid Loneliness 1 0.30 To earn an income 192 64.00 To supplement the Family Income 107 35.70 Total 300 100.00 Source: Survey data.

230 It can be inferred that the majority of the respondents 64 per cent have chosen this job to earn an income. 6.3 Employment Age Age is one among the major factors which affect both the socio economic and physical status of every human being. The match workers are too poor even to meet their basic necessities of life. Hence they entered the match industry as workers in their childhood. The following Table reveals the classification of sample respondents based on their age on joining the factory as an employee. TABLE 6.4 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS ACCORDING TO AGE AT ENTER AS A FACTORY EMPLOYEE Employment Age No.of Respondents Percentage <14 9 3.00 15-19 46 15.30 20-24 51 17.00 25-29 97 32.30 30-34 51 17.00 35-39 38 12.70 40 and above 8 2.70 Total 300 100.00 Mean: 26.7 Source: Survey data.

231 It is inferred from the Table 6.4 that the majority of the respondents 97 (32.30 per cent) entered as factory employee at the age group of 25-29 years, 17 per cent entered at 20-24 years. 15.20 per cent of the respondents entered at 15-19 years, 12.70 per cent of the respondents entered at 35-39 years and 3 per cent to the respondents entered below 14 years. Only 2.70 per cent of the respondents were above 40 years when they got employment. The mean value is 26.70 that is 27 years. It can be concluded that the majority of the respondents (32.40 per cent) entered as a factory employee at the age of 25-29 years. TABLE 6.5 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT Source of Work No.of Respondents Percentage Own efforts 255 85.0 Family Members 27 9.0 Relative 18 6.0 Total 300 100.00 Source: Survey data. It is inferred from Table 6.5 that out of 300 respondents majority (85 per cent) of them got employment by their own efforts. Merely 9.0 per cent of the

232 respondents got employment at the instance of family members and 6.00 per cent obtained employment through their relatives. Therefore it is inferred that majority (85 per cent) of them got employment through their own effort. TABLE 6.6 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BASED ON PREVIOUS YEAR S EMPLOYMENT Last Year s Employment No.of Respondents Percentage Throughout the year 187 62.30 9 to 12 months 108 36.00 6 to 9 months 4 1.30 Less than 6 months 1 0.40 Total 300 100.00 Source: Survey data. Table 6.6 explains the distribution of respondents by the previous year s employment position. Out of 300 respondents the majority 62.30 per cent were employed throughout the year. 36 per cent of the respondents were employed for 9 to 12 months. 1.30 per cent were employed for 6 to 9 months. The remaining 0.2 per cent were employed less than 6 months. It can be inferred that the majority of the respondents (62.30 per cent) were employed throughout the year.

233 6.4 Like of Present Profession Match industry is the major source of earning income of Sattur taluk. Out of 300 respondents 100 per cent of the respondents liked their present profession. Because there is no other way to earn income, it can be inferred that 100 per cent of the respondents liked their present profession. 6.5 Period of Payment Period of payment is one important attractions in match industry because match industry workers are from poor families. As far as wage position of the respondents is analysed 100 per cent of the respondents are getting the weekly wages. weekly basis. It can be inferred that 100 per cent of the respondents are getting wages on 6.6 Mode of Wage Fixation The abject poverty of the people, forces the workers to accept minimal wages for their employment in the match industry. People s dependence on this income and their readiness to accept it provides the employers the opportunity to exploit the laboures by paying low wages to get the work done. Match manufacturing is a predominant source of income to rural households in the study

234 area. Generally in the match industry women labourers are given wage on a piece rate basis. Income earned by women labourers depends upon the amount of matches produced like box making, frame fining, box filing. Piece rate system is adopted. Naturally the labourers, especially women turnout the maximum output due to the existence of piece rate system. Higher the number of matches produced better will be the income. However, the mode of wage payment is time rated. At the time of field visit, a labourer was paid wage at the following rates. For frame filling Rs.1.25 per frame, box filling Rs.1.40 per unit, packing (bundle) Rs.0.65 per unit, Dozen packing Rs.1.75 per bundle, wax coating Rs.60 per day, Chemical dipping Rs.60 per day. It is inferred that the process of match production like frame filling, box filling and packing were paid on piece rate system whereas wax coating and chemical dipping were paid on time rate system. The time rate is paid fortnightly or monthly. These time rate labourers were called company workers. Mostly male adults were engaged in such jobs. Women were generally paid on piece rate basis that has its own oppressive logic. i.e., long hours of work at high speed for low returns. It is inferred that out of 300 respondents all (100 per cent) were employed as piece rate workers.

235 6.7 Night Shift Work There are various labour legislations in which employing women during night shifts were prohibited. Besides generally, women workers do not want night works. In the match industry, it can be inferred that 100 per cent of the respondents are not having in night shift work. TABLE 6.7 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS (PER MONTH) Number of Working Days in a Month No.of Respondents Percentage 15 Days 1 0.20 18 Days 3 0.60 20 Days 14 4.70 22 Days 117 39.00 23 Days 65 21.70 24 Days 99 33.30 25 Days 1 0.20 Total 300 100.00 Mean: 22.758 days (i.e., 23 days) Source: Survey Data. Table 6.7 shows the distribution of respondents by number of working days in a month. Out of 300 respondents the majority of 39 per cent are working

236 22 days in a month, whereas 0.2 per cent are working 15 days in a month, 0.6 per cent are working 18 days in a month. 4.7 per cent are working 20 days in a month, 21.7 per cent are working 23 days in a month and 33.3 per cent are working 24 days and only 0.3 per cent are working 25 days. The average number of working days is 22.758 that is 23 days. It is inferred that the majority of 39 per cent of the respondents are working 22 days in a month. 6.8 Rest Intervals Rest intervals are important for every human being. Out of 300 respondents 100 per cent of the respondents are taking rest during their working hours. They take rest at minimum half an hour and maximum two and half hour. During the rest intervals they do their households works like preparing food, sweeping, washing and care about their family members. 6.9 Holiday Facility Out of 300 respondents 100 per cent of the respondents are enjoying the holiday facility. During their holidays they do their household work and watching the TV programmes. Mostly all Sundays are holidays in the Match industry.

237 6.10 Working Time in a Factory Working time varies from individual to individual. The following Table illustrates the distribution of respondents by hours of work engaged. TABLE 6.8 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY HOURS OF WORK ENGAGED Hours of Work No.of Respondents Percentage 6 Hours 10 3.30 7 Hours 140 46.70 8 Hours 119 39.70 8.30 Hours 31 10.30 Total 300 100.00 Mean: 7.49 Source: Survey data. Table 6.8 illustrates the daily working hours of the respondents of the match industry labourers. 3.3 per cent of the workers work for 6 hours a day, 46.7 per cent of the workers serve for 7 hours a day 39.7 per cent workers work for 8 hours a day, 10.2 per cent workers work for 8.30 hours a day. The mean value is 7.49. hours a day. It is inferred that majority of 46.6 per cent of the respondents work for 7

238 TABLE 6.9 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY OPINION REGARDING THEIR JOB Feel about Work No.of Respondents Percentage Monotonous 280 93.30 Interesting 20 6.70 Total 300 100.00 Source: Survey data. Table 6.9 shows that the distribution of respondents feel about their job. Out of 300 respondents majority (93.3 per cent) feel their work is monotonous. The remaining 6.7 per cent found the work interesting. Therefore, it is inferred from the analysis that whether they enjoy the work or not women make matches for their daily survival. The unmarried women make matches and earn income for meeting the expenses of their marriage. It is inferred that majority (93.3 per cent) found their work monotonous.

239 TABLE 6.10 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY FEELING ABOUT WORK AND JOB SATISFACTION Feeling about Work Job Satisfaction Fully Satisfied Partially Satisfied Total Monotonous 262 179 280 Interesting 20 1 20 282 Total (94) Source: Survey data. Note : Figures in brackets indicate percentages. 18 (6) 300 (100) Table 6.10 shows the nature of job satisfaction of the respondents. It is inferred from the above Table that majority (94 per cent) of the respondents working in the match industry are satisfied with their work and only (6 per cent) of the respondents are partially satisfied with their work. It is inferred that majority (94 per cent) of the respondents are feeling satisfied with their work.

240 TABLE 6.11 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BASED ON VIEWS ABOUT WORK AND WORKING HOURS Views about Work Working Hours 6 7 8 8.30 Total Monotonous 9 127 114 30 Interesting 1 13 5 1 280 (93.30) 20 (6.70) Total 10 (3.3) 140 (46.7) 119 (39.7) 31 (10.3) 300 (100.00) Source: Survey data. Note : Figures in brackets indicate percentages. Table 6.11 explains that distribution of respondents based on views about work and working hours. It is observed that majority (46.7 per cent) of the respondents are working 7 hours per day. Next to that (39.7 per cent) are working 8 hours per day. Respondents working 8.30 hours per day and 6 hours per day are (10.3 per cent) and (3.3 per cent) respectively. It is inferred that majority of the workers in the study area are working 7 hours per day.

241 TABLE 6.12 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY JOB SATISFACTION Job Satisfaction No.of Respondents Percentage Fully Satisfied 282 94 Partially Satisfied 18 6.0 Total 300 100.00 Source: Survey data. Table 6.40 illustrates the distribution of respondents by their satisfaction level in the match industry. Out of 300 respondents majority 94 per cent of the respondents are fully satisfied and only 6.0 per cent of the respondents are partially satisfied with their job. It can be concluded that majority (94 per cent) of the respondents are fully satisfied their match works. 6.11 Factors Influencing the Level of Job Satisfaction In this section, an attempt has been made to examine the factors which influence the job satisfaction of women working in match industry in the study area. There are a number of factors that influence the level of job satisfaction. The researcher identifies the factors namely the age, family size, literacy level, wage and work experience which are closely associated with the level of their job

242 satisfaction. For this, the following form of multiple log linear regression model was fitted. where, Log Y = β 0 + β 1 log X 1 + β 2 log X 2 + β 3 log X 3 + β 4 log X 4 + β 5 log X 5 + u... (6.1) Y X 1 X 2 X 3 = Level of job satisfaction (score value), = Age in years, = Family size in numbers, = Literacy level (Score value) Illiterate = 1, Upto Primary = 2, Secondary = 3 Higher Secondary = 4; X 4 X 5 u = Wage in rupees, = Experience in years, = Disturbance term. β 0, β 1,... β 5 are the parameters to be estimated. The above model (6.1) has been estimated by the method of least squares and the results are presented in Table 6.13.

243 TABLE 6.13 ESTIMATED REGRESSION RESULTS OF JOB SATISFACTION Variables Parameter Estimates t-value Intercept (β 0 ) 3.1012 Age (β 1 ) -0.0782-0.0381 Family Size (β 2 ) 0.1143 0.7841 Literacy Level (β 3 ) 0.1872* 4.2141 Wage (β 4 ) 0.3269* 3.7811 Experience (β 5 ) 0.2918* 3.6214 R 2 0.7436 F-value 32.46 No. of observations 300 * Indicates that the coefficients are statistically significant at 5 per cent level. It is inferred from Table 6.13 that the coefficient of multiple determination R 2 was 0.7436 indicating 74.36 per cent variation in the level of job satisfaction associated with independent variables included in the regression model. Three out of five variables, namely, literacy level, wage and experience are statistically significant at 5 per cent level and they are positively related to the level of job satisfaction.

244 It is inferred from the result that education of women workers was directly related with their level of job satisfaction. When the educational level increased by one per cent, job satisfaction increased of 0.1872 per cent cetaris paribus. In the case of wage, one per cent increase in the wages, cetaris paribus would result in an increase of the level of job satisfaction by 0.3269 per cent. The result indicates that the years of experience has direct relationship with job satisfaction indicating that when experience increases by one per cent, it could result in the level of job satisfaction increasing by 0.2918 per cent cetaris paribus. Among the significant independent variables, wage had a greater influence on the level of job satisfaction followed by the variables experience and literacy level. 6.12 Mode of Conveyance Out of 500 respondents 100 per cent walk to the work place because all of the respondents come from the adjacent streets and places near by the match industry.

245 TABLE 6.14 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY JOB SATISFACTION AND WORKING HOURS Job Satisfaction Working Hours Total 6 7 8 8.30 Fully Satisfied 8 137 110 27 282 Partially Satisfied 2 3 9 4 18 Total 10 140 119 31 300 (3.3) (46.7) (39.7) (10.3) Source: Survey data. Note : Figures in brackets indicate percentages. Table 6.14 shows the distribution of respondents by job satisfaction and working hours. It is observed that majority (46.7 per cent) of the respondents are working 7 hours per day. Next to that 39.7 per cent are working 8 hours per day. Respondents working 8.5 hours per day and 6 hours per day are (10.3 per cent) and (3.3 per cent) respectively. It is inferred that majority 46.60 per cent are working 7 hours per day.

246 TABLE 6.15 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BASED ON THOSE WHO ACCOMPANY THEM TO THE WORK SPOT People Accompany No.of Respondents Percentage Husband 51 17.00 Brother/Sister 4 1.30 Co-workers 198 66.00 By themselves 47 15.70 Total 300 100.00 It is understood from the above Table 6.15 that out of 300 respondents majority (66 per cent) respondents are accompany with co-workers to reaching the work spot. 17 per cent of the respondents are escorted by their husbands. 1.3 per cent came with their brother/sister and the remaining 15.7 per cent reaching the work spot by themselves. It can be inferred that majority (66 per cent) of the respondents are accompanied by co-workers to reaching the work spot. 6.13 Travelling Allowance Out of 300 respondents 100 per cent of the respondents come on foot. Hence the factory owners do not give any traveling allowance.

247 TABLE 6.16 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY RELATIONSHIP WITH MANAGEMENT Response No.of Respondents Scores Percentage Respondents Strongly Agree 151 755 53.30 Agree 149 596 49.70 Total 300 1351 100.00 Mean: 4.502 management. Table 6.16 presents the distribution of respondents by relationship with It is understood from the above Table that 53.30 per cent of the respondents strongly agree that they have good relationship with the management. The remaining 49.70 per cent of the respondents do not feel so strong. It is inferred that majority (53.30 per cent) of the respondents are strongly feel positively about their relationship with the management.

248 TABLE 6.17 CLASSIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS BY RELATIONSHIP WITH CO-WORKERS Response No.of Respondents Scores Percentage Strongly Agree 100 500 33.30 Agree 199 796 66.30 No Opinion 1 3 0.40 Total 300 1299 100.00 Mean: 4.33 Table 6.17 explains the distribution of respondents by relationship with coworkers. Out of 300 respondents the majority 66.3 per cent have good relationship with their co-workers. 33.3 per cent of the respondents strongly agree relationship with their co-workers. The remaining 0.4 per cent are non-committal. It is inferred that majority (66.3 per cent) of the respondents agree about good relationship with their co-workers.

249 TABLE 6.18 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER MATCH INDUSTRY WORKER Response No.of Respondents Scores Percentage Agree 137 548 45.70 No Opinion 58 174 19.30 Disagree 94 188 31.30 Strongly Disagree 11 11 3.70 Total 300 921 100.00 Mean: 3.07 Table 6.18 reveals the distribution of respondents by relationship with other Match industry worker. Out of 300 respondents majority (45.7 per cent) agree that their relationship with other match industry worker is good. 19.3 per cent of the respondents are have no opinion, 31.3 per cent of the respondents disagree about their relationship with other match industry worker. The remaining 3.8 per cent of the respondents strongly disagree about their relationship with other match industry workers. The mean score is 3.07. It can be inferred that majority (45.7 per cent) of the respondents agree about their relationship with other match industry worker is good.

250 TABLE 6.19 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY GOOD SEATING ARRANGEMENT Response No.of Respondents Scores Percentage Agree 165 660 55.00 No Opinion 4 12 1.30 Disagree 131 262 43.70 Total 300 934 100.00 Mean: 3.986 Table 6.19 illustrates the distribution of respondents by seating arrangement. Out of 300 respondents majority 55 per cent of the respondents agree their seating arrangement is good followed by 43.7 per cent of the respondents who disagree about their seating arrangements. The remaining 1.3 per cent workers have no opinion. The mean score is 3.986. It is inferred that majority of 55 per cent of the respondents agree about the seating arrangement.

251 TABLE 6.20 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY LOAN FACILITIES Response No.of Respondents Scores Percentage Strongly Agree 37 148 12.30 Agree 212 636 70.70 No Opinion 50 100 16.70 Disagree 1 1 0.30 Total 300 885 100.00 Mean: 3.944 Table 6.20 illustrates distribution of respondents by loan facilities. Out of 300 respondents majority 70.7 per cent of the respondents agree about loan facilities given by the match industry owners. 12.3 per cent of the respondents strongly agree about loan facilities given by the match industry owners. 16.7 per cent of the respondents have no opinion. The remaining 0.3 per cent of the respondents disagree about the loan facilities. The mean score is 3.944 It can be inferred that majority 70.6 per cent of the respondents agree about the loan facilities.

252 TABLE 6.21 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY PROVIDING SAFETY MEASURES Response No.of Respondents Scores Percentage Strongly Agree 13 65 4.30 Agree 166 664 55.30 No Opinion 2 6 0.70 Disagree 118 236 39.30 Strongly Disagree 1 1 0.40 Total 300 972 100.00 Mean: 3.242 Table 6.21 explains distribution of respondents by providing safety measures in the match industry. Out of 300 respondents majority 55.3 per cent of the respondents agree about providing safety measures. 4.3 per cent of the respondents strongly agree, 0.7 per cent of the respondents have no opinion, and 39.3 per cent of the respondents disagree. The remaining 0.4 per cent of the respondents say that they strongly disagree by providing safety measures. The mean score is 3.242. It is inferred that majority 55.4 per cent of the respondents agree that they are provided safety measures.

253 6.14 Opinion about Freedom given by the Match Industry Out of 300 respondents majority 96.40 of the respondents strongly agree that they have freedom given by the match industry for attending to personal needs. The remaining 3.60 per cent of the respondents do not agree. The mean score is 4.998. It is inferred that nearly 100 per cent of the respondents appreciate to management for freedom to attend to urgent needs. 6.15 Accident met by the Women Labourers in the Match Industry The match industry is one of the major chemical industries. So accidents are very common. Out of 300 respondents no one met accident during the reference period. Wax coating and chemical dipping are accident-prone. Male adult members are doing this process and they meet accidents very commonly. Thus it is inferred that (100 per cent) all of the respondents are aware of the occupational risk but no body met with any accidents. 6.16 Benefits and Facilities in the Working Place Benefits and facilities availed of from the working place are factors which play a vital role on the life of each and every employee. So, she available benefits and facilities in the match industry are studied as per the responses given by the respondents and are stated below.

254 TABLE 6.22 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY BENEFITS AND FACILITIES OF WORK PLACE Facilities No.of Respondents Total Percentage Leave Facility 300 300 100 Drinking Water 207 300 69 First Aid 177 300 59 Ventilation 195 300 65 Bathroom and Latrine 156 300 52 Source: Computed from Survey data. Table 6.22 describes the match industry workers on the basis of the realization of basic amenities in factories like leave facility, drinking water, first aid, ventilation, bathroom and latrine. Out of 300 respondents, 100 per cent are enjoying leave facility. 69 per cent are enjoying drinking water facility. 59 per cent are enjoying first aid facility and 65 per cent are enjoying ventilation facility. More than half (52 per cent) are enjoying the bathroom and latrine facility. It is inferred that more than half of the respondents are enjoying basic amenities in the match industry.

255 6.17 Availability of Social Security Measures in the Working Place Social security means that a society guarantees help and assistance to sickdisabled, destitute, aged and those who are temporarily incapacitated and need others help. Social security protects a man from hunger and want, squalor, disease, unemployment and ignorance. Hence the available social security measures were studied as per the responses given by the respondents and were stated below. TABLE 6.23 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL SECURITY MEASURES Social Security No.of Respondents Total Percentage Yes No Provident Fund 168 220 300 56 Maternity Leave Benefits 300 -- 300 100 ESI 105 325 300 35 Medical Allowances 168 220 300 56 Accident Compensation 297 5 300 99 Sickness Benefits 168 220 300 56 Table 6.23 illustrates whether the match facility workers are enjoying the welfare measures or not. Out of 300 respondents 56 per cent of the respondents gets provident fund benefit, 100 per cent of the respondents are enjoying the maternity leave benefits, 35 per cent ESI and 56 per cent are enjoying the medical

256 allowances, 99 per cent are enjoying the accident compensation and 56 per cent of the respondents are enjoying the sickness benefits. It shows that more than half of respondents are enjoying the Provident Fund maternity leave benefits, medical allowances, accident compensation and sickness benefits. Only 35 per cent are enjoying the Employees State Insurance benefits. 6.18 Creche Facility Most of the Acts make special provisions for women labourers. The Factories Act, 1948 provides for separate toilet, washing and resting facilities for them. It prohibits their employment during night and in hazardous occupations. It makes special safety provisions by disallowing them to clean, to lift heavy weights. If a woman has a young child whom she has left in the factory creche, she has to be given time off at stated frequencies to go and suckle her baby. There should be provision for creches in factories employing more than 30 women labourers. In every factory where more than 30 women labourers are ordinarily employed, there shall be provided and maintained a suitable room or rooms for use of children under the age of 6 years under Sec. 48 (1) of Factory Act 1948. Creches are to be adequately lighted with ventilation and to be under the charge of trained women. Rooms for use of children shall provide adequate

257 accommodation, shall be adequately lighted and ventilated. Further they shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be under the charge of women trained in the care of children and infants (sec, 48 (2)). The state government may make rules prescribing the location and the standards in respect of construction, accommodation, furniture and other equipment of rooms for use of children. It may also make rules for the provision of additional facilities for the care of children belonging to women labourers, including suitable provision of facilities (a) for washing and changing their clothing (b) of free milk or refreshment or both for the children and (c) for the mothers of children to feed them at the necessary intervals (sec, 48 (3) Factory Act 1948. 6.19 Bonus Generally the match industry gives bonus to their employees. The bonus is being paid twice in a year, especially at the time of festivals such as Pongal and Deepavali by dividing the entire entitlement into two parts. Overall earnings in terms of both wage and bonus of a worker depend upon the amount of matches produced at a given point of time. Hence the classification of functions for giving the houses by the match industry owners is given in the following table.

258 TABLE 6.24 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY BONUS PAYMENT Functions No.of Respondents Percentage Deepavali 93 31.0 Deepavali and Pongal 207 69.0 Total 300 100.0 Table 6.24 illustrates the distribution of respondents by bonus payment. Out of 300 respondents majority 69 per cent of the respondents are enjoying bonus for Deepavali and Pongal. The remaining 31 per cent of the respondents are enjoying bonus for Deepavali only. It shows that majority (69 per cent) of the respondents are enjoying the bonus for both Deepavalai and Pongal. 6.20 Retirement Benefit Industrial life generally breaks the family system. The saving capacity of the employee is very low due to lower wages, high living cost and increasing aspirations of the employees and their family members. As such employers provide some benefits to the employees after retirement and during old age, with a view to create a feeling of security about the old age. These benefits are called old age and retirement benefits.

259 It is inferred that 100 per cent of the respondents are not getting retirement benefits. There is no provision for that also. 6.21 Classification of the Match Industry Workers on the basis of Advance Received The match workers are poor even to meet their basic necessities of life. Hence they get advance amount from their employer. The following table reveals the advance received in the last year. TABLE 6.25 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY ADVANCE RECEIVED (in the last year) Advance Received No.of Respondents Percentage Yes 254 84.70 No 46 15.30 Total 300 100.00 Table 6.25 illustrates the distribution of respondents by advance amount received in the last year. Out of 300 respondents the majority 84.70 per cent received advance amount last year. The remaining 15.30 per cent are received no advance.

260 It can be inferred that more than three-fourths (84.8 per cent) received advance last year. 6.22 Mode of Repayment of Advance Most of the match industry workers get advance from their employer. The following Table reveals that mode of repayment of advance amount to the employer. TABLE 6.26 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY MODE OF REPAYMENT OF ADVANCE Mode of Repayment No.of Respondents Percentage No Repayment 46 15.30 From Salary Itself 254 84.70 Total 300 100.00 Table 6.26 shows the distribution of respondents by mode of their repayment of advance. Out of 300 respondents majority (84.70 per cent) get the advance deducted from their salary. The remaining 15.30 per cent did not get any advance amount. It shows that the majority (84.8 per cent) of the respondents are repaying the advance amount from their salary itself.

261 TABLE 6.27 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY MEMBERSHIP IN SHG Membership No.of Respondents Percentage Yes 61 20.30 No 239 79.70 Total 300 100.00 Table 6.27 indicates distribution of respondents by membership in SHG (Self-Help Group). Out of 300 respondents majority 79.70 per cent of the respondents are not members of any kind of organisations and the remaining 20.30 per cent of the respondents are members of SHG. In recent days, SHG is one of the civil society organisations which promote the rural poor people. Some women workers joined the SHG because they could get loans. It reveals that majority 79.70 per cent of the respondents are not members of any kind of organisation. 6.23 Member in Trade Union or Labour Welfare Associations A trade union, in common parlance, means an association of workers in a particular craft or industry. In a strictly legal sense it means an association formed primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workmen and employers or between work men and employers or between workmen and

262 workmen or between employers and employees. This is a very wide use of the term. Its main function is to enable the workers to act together. The individual by himself being in a weak bargaining position to negotiate with employers, resort to collective bargaining, the strike being their weapon of last report to be used only after negotiations have broken down. But under the existing law (the Trade Unions Act, 1926) the expression, trade union includes both employers and workers organisations. In the Match industry several female workers do not feel the need for a union. They attributes to i) Poor awareness about trade unions and labour welfare associations. ii) iii) Not interested. Fear about the job security. associations. Out of 300 respondents nobody is involved in trade union or labour welfare It indicates that 100 per cent of the respondents were not involved in any trade union or labour welfare associations. Summary follows. The findings of the analysis of the present section are summarised as

263 The nature of work of the women entrepreneurs amounts to inner box making, outer box making, frame filling and box filling. Nearly 50 per cent of the respondents have engaged in frame filling in the study area. Nearly hundred per cent of the sample respondents are working on a regular basis. The main reason for joining employment is personal income and family income. Majority of the women employees got employment before 25-29 years. Majority of the respondents (93.2 per cent) opined that their job is monotonous. But nearly 94 per cent are fully satisfied with their job. About 70 per cent of the respondents agreed that the loan facilities are available in the match industry. Everyone enjoys leave facilities. More than fifty per cent enjoy all the basic amenities in the work place. It is observed that there is poor awareness about trade union and labour welfare associations.