Section 4

Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.

Purposes for which Fund may be expended.— Subject to the provisions of this Act and the scheme, the Fund shall be expendecf for the following purposes, namly:- (a) payment of relief wages to employees in cashew factorie when there is no work in those factories; and *(aa) payment of pension:- to an employee who is unable to work due to old age or infirmity or who has completed the age of sixty years; and (iA) * "to an employee of a cashew factory retired before or after the commencement of this Act on attaining the age of superan- nuation as per the rules of the concerned cashew factory and is out of employment; and" to a person who; before the commencement of this Act was an employee and completed the age of sixty years or who sufffers from permanent disablement and is out of employment; and 2 * (aaa) payment of,- family pension to the spouse of a deceased employee; (ii) financial assistance to an employee who suffers from permanent or temporary disablement; loans or grants to an employee to meet expenses for the marriage of children or for expenses in connection with the death of dependent or for expenses for construction or maintenance of house; for providing,- maternity benefits to women employees and members of their families who are not eligible for such benefits under any other law for the time being in force; medical facilities to thoss employees and members of theii families who are not eligible for such benefits under any other raw for the time being in force. facilities for education to the employees and members'of their families; and * (iA) Added as per (Amendment) Act 1990 (Notn. No. 331/Leg: C2/90/ Law dated 2-3-90 Published in K. G. (E. 0.) No. 202 dt. 2-390. 5 Explanation. - For the purpose of the above clause (aaa) family means and includes the following relatives of the employee, namely:- wife in case of male employee; husband in case of female employee; - (c) minor sons; minor daughters; father and mother who are solely dependent upon the employee. (b) payment of such other amount as may be specified in the scheme, 5 Contribution and matters which may be provided for in the scheme:- (1) The contribution which shall be paid by an employer to the Fund shall be at the rate of one rupee for each employee for each day of work done by him in the cashew factory. The contribution which shall be paid by an employee shall be at the rate of "fifty paise" for every day of work done by him in the cashew factory. * 3 "(2A) The amount of contribution due for the period prior to the date of publication of the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief & Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act 1990 shall be deemed to be in arrears and shall be paid to the Fund in such instalments and in such manner as may be- specified by the Cove'. The emyloyees' contribution -shall be deducted by the employer from the wages payable and remitted to the Fund along with the employers share before the date specified in section 9. * 4 "(3A) The Govt. shall contribute to the Fund every year by way of grant on a matching basis an amount equal tn twice the amount of contribution paid by employees under Sub Section (2). Where the amount of contribution payable under this Act involves a fraction of a rupee, the scheme may provide for 'rounding off of the fraction to the nearest rupee, half-a-rupee or quarter of a rupee. 6 Modification of scheme:— (1) The Government may, by nbtification in the Gazette, add to, amend or vary the scheme either prospectively or retrospectively. - (2) Every notification under sub-section (1) shall be laid as soon as may be, after it is issued, before the Legislative Assembly -* 1, 2. 3 & 4 Inserted, substituted and added as per (Amendment) tct, 1987 as per Notn No. 18803/Led. C3/87Law dt. 28-1-88 Published in K. C. (E 0) No. 68 dt. 28-1-88. a while it is in session for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any modifica- tion in the notification or decides that the notification should not be issued, the notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice- to the validity of anything previously done under that notification. 7 Constitution of Board:-. (1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, constitute, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, a Board to be called the Kerale Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Board for the administration of the Fund and to supervise or carry out the activities financed from the Fund The Board shall be a body corporate by the name afore- said having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and the sued. The Board shall consist of such number of Directors as may be appointed by the Government and they shall be chosen in such manner' as may be provided for in the scheme; Provided that the Board shall include an equal number of Directors representing the Government, the employers and the employees. One of the Directors of the Board shall be appointed by the Government as its Chairman. The Chairman shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be specified in the scheme. 1 * (6) Omitted The Government shall publish in the Gazette the names of the Chairman, 2 * and the other Directors of the Board. The Board shall administer the Fund vested in it in such manner as may be specified in the scheme. 8 Appointment of officers:- (1) The Government may appoint a Chief Executive Officer and as many Inspectors as they cosider nec ssary to assist the Chief Executive Officer in the exercise of hi powers and the discharge of his duties. (2) The Board may, with the previous approval of the Gover- nment appoint such officers and other employees as it may considir necessary for assisting it in the administration of the Fund. * I & 2 Omitted as per (Amendrnent)Act, 1987, as per NoIn No. 18803/ - Leg. C3/87/Law Dt. 28-1-88 published in K. G. (E. 0) No. 68 dt. 28-1-88. lb S (3) The method of recruitment, salary and allowances, disci- pline and other conditions of service of the Chief Executive Officer and the Inspectors shall be such as may be specified by the Gover- nment, and the method of recruitment, salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service of the officers and other - employees appointed by the Board shall be such as may be specified by the Board with the previous approval of the Government. - (4) In making appointments to the posts of officers and other employees to be appointed by the Board, the provisions of -clauses (a), fbi and (c) of rule 14 and the provisions of rules 15, 16 and 17 of the Kerala State and Subordinate Servipes Rules, 1958, as amended from time to time, shall mutatis mutandis, be observed. 9 Duty of employer to file return:- Every employer shall, before the 10th of every month, tile a return showing the details of contributions paid into the fund, in such manner as may be specified in the scheme.. 10 Determination of amounts due from employers:- (1) The Chief Executive Officer or any Inspector authorised by him in this behalf may, by order, determine the amounts due from any employer under the provisions of this Act or of the scheme and for this purpose may conduct such enquiry as he may deem necessary. (2) The officer conducting the enquiry under sub-section (1) shall for the purposes of such enquiry, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 6 of 1908), when trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely. enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; requiring the discovery and production of documents; receiving evidence on affidavit; issuing commissions for the examination of witness. (3) Any enquiry under this section shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of section 196, of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 Central Act 45 of 1860). - (4) No order determining the amount due from any employer shall be made under sub-section (1) unless the employer has been - gven a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (5) Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (1) may prefer an appeal to the Government or such other authority - as may be specified by the Government in this behalf, within sixty days from the date of the receipt of the order, and the decision of the Government or such other authority on such appeal shall be final. 11 Provisional assessment where return is not filed:- If any employer fails to submit the return as required by section 9, the Chief Executive Officer or the Inspector authorised by him in this behalf may provi- sionally determine the amount due from that employer 10 the Fund. - Provided that no provisional assessment shall be made final till the party is given an opportunity of being heard. 12 Mode of recovery of money due from employers:. Any amount due - from an employer in pursuance of the provisions of this Act or the scheme may, if the amount is in arrears be recovered in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue. 13 Penalties:- (1) Whoever, for the purpose of avoiding any payment to be made by himself under this Act or under the scheme or of enabling any other person to avoid such payment, knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or false represen- tation, shall be punishable whith imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. (2) Whoever contravenes or makes default in complying with any of the provisions of this Act or of the scheme shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this Act for such contravention or non-compliance, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. 14 Enchanced punishment for default in payment of employee's contributions already deducted:- (1) Whoever makes default in the payment of the employees' share of the contribution to the Fund after having deducted it from the wages of the employees in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the scheme, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, but which shall not be less than three months. and with fine which may extend to four thousand rupees. (2) Notwithstanding anything contaked in the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), an offence under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable. 15 Enhanced punishment for second or .ubsequent offence:- Whoever having been convicted by a court of an offence punishable under this Act, commits the same offence again, shall be punishable for every such subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term whick may extend to one year, but which shall not be less than three months and with fine which may extend to four thousand rupees. 16 Offences by companies:- Where an offence under this Act hasTT been cmmitted by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the - company for the conduct of the business of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. ) Provided that nothing contained in this sUb-section shall render any such person p liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. p (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) where an offence under this Act has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributble to any neglect on the part of, any. Director, Manager, - Secretary or other officer o(the company, such Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation:- For the purposes of this section, - "company' means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals, and "director", in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm 17 Cognisance of offences:- No court shall take cognisance of any offence punishable under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made with the previous sanction of the Govern- ment or such other authority as may be specified in this behalf by the Government, by the Chief Executive Officer or any Inspector appointed under this Act 18 Powerto order inquiry: -(1) The Government may, at anytime, appoint any person to inquire into the working of the Board and to submit a report to the Government. (2) The Board shall give the person so appointed all facilities for the proper conduct of the inquiry and furnish to him such documents, accounts or information in the possession of the Board as he may require. 19, Powerto supersede the Board:- 1) If, on consideration of the report under * section 18 or otherwise, the Government are of opinion that the Board has ) persistently made default in the performance of the duties imposed on it ( by or under the povisions of this Act or the scheme or has exceeded or.. - 1ecified %used its powers, the Government may by notification i the Gazette, supersede the Board for such period not exceeding six months as may be sp in the notification: Provided that, before issuing a notification under this sub-section, the Govern- ment shall give a reasonable opportunityto the Board to show causewby it should not besuoerseded and shall considerthe explanations and obiections. if any, of theBoard. 10 (2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1)— all the Directors of the Board shall, as from the date of such publication, vacate their offices as such Directors; all the powers and duties which may be exercised or performed by the Board shall, during the period of supersession, be exercised or performed by such. • officer or officers as may be specified in the notification; * (c)all funds and other properties vested in the Board shall, dth'ing the period of- • supersession, vest in the Government. (3) On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1) the Government shall reconstitute the Board in the manner provided in section 7 20 Power to recover damages :- Where an employer makes default in the payment of any contribution due to the Fund under this Act, the Govern- ment may recover from the employer damages not exceeding twenty-five per cent of the amount of arrears as they may think fit to impose. - 21 Bar of benefits under Industrial Disputes Act, 1947:- Any employee who is paid relief wages under this Act shall not be entitled to claim the compensation, if any, payable under Chapter VA of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (Central Act 14 of 1947), for the days on which such relief wages have been paid. 22 Barofjurisdiction of civil courts:- No civil court shall havejurisdiction to settle, decide or deal with any question or to determine any matter which is by or under this Act required to be settled, decided or dealt with or to be determined by the Government orthe Board or the Chief Executive Officer or any Inspector. 23 Directors of the Board etc. to be public servants :- Every Director of the Board and every officer or other employee appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Pehal Code 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860). 24 Protection of actions faked in good faith :- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Government or the Board or any officer or other person in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or the scheme. 25 Power to remove difficulties:- If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act or of the scheme, the governmentcnay by order, do anything not inconsistent with such provisions which appears to them to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty It SCHEDULE (See Sub-section (4) of section 3 MATTERS OF WHICH PROVISIONS MAY BE MADE IN THE SCHEME - ~db 1 The time and manner in which contributions shall be made to the Fund by the employers. 2 The payment by the employers of sums of money as may be necessary to meet the cost of administering the Fund and the rate at which and the manner in which the payment shall be made. 3 The constitution of any committee for assisting the Board. 4 The manner in which accounts shall be kept, the investment of money belonging to the Fund in accordance with any direction iued on condition specified by the Government, the preparation of the budget, the audit of accounts And the submission of reports to the Government. 5 The conditions under which the Fund may be expended for paymentof relief wages to the workers during the period of closure of cashew factories. 1 5A The amount and the conditions and procedures for the payment of pension, family pension, grant and advance from the fund. 2* 5-B The purposes forwhich thefund may beutilised forthewelfare of employees or their dependents'. 6 The registers and records to be maintained with respect to employees and the returns to be furnished by employers. 7 The form or design of any identity card: token or disc for the purpose of identifying and employee; and for issue, custody and replacementthereof. The fee to be levied for any of the purposes specified in this schedule. 9 The further powers, if any,wtiich may be exercised by the Chief Executive I # Officer and the Inspectors 10 Any other matter which is to be provided for in the scheme or which may be .necessary or proper for the purpose of irnplementihg the scheme * I and 2 : Inscrted as per (Ainendincnt) Act 1987 (Non. No. 18803/ Leg. (3/87/Law dt. 28.1.88 publishcd in K.G.E.O No.68 dt 28-148 a GOVERNMENT OF KERALA Labour and RehabiLitation Department NOTIF1CATI0N G. 0(P) No. 96/88/LBR. Dated, Trivandrum, 4th November, 1988 0' S.R.O.No. 1432/88 In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1)01 section 3 of the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Act, 1979 (19 of 1984) and in supersession of the existing scheme, the Government of Kerala hereby frame the following scheme for the establishniehi of a Fund for the Cashew Workers and the matters connected therewith namely THE KERALA CASHEW WORKERS RELIEF AND WELFARE FUND SCHEME 1988 .C}tAPTER I PRELIMINARY I S/son title, Commencement and Application - (1) This scheme may be called the Kerala Cashew Workers' Relief and Welfare Fund Scheme, 1988. It shall be come into force on such date as the Government may by notification in the Gazette, appoint. - It shall apply to all Cashew factories registered and licensed in the State of Kerala under the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948). 2 Definition -(1) In this scheme unless the contest otherwise requires,- (a) "Act"means the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Act, 1979 (19 of. 1984); - (b) "Board means the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Board, constituted under section 7 of the Act; Pnblished as Extra ordinary0zette No. 982 dated 4th November 1988 by the Superintendent Govt. Presses, Trivandrum "Calendar Year" means the year commencing on the I st day of January and ending with the 31 st day of December; "Cashew Factory" means a factory wherein the processing of cashewnuts is being carried on and which is registered and licensed under the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948); "Contribution" means the contribution payable by an employer or em- ployee or Government under the Scheme; (0 "Director" means a Director of the Board; - 4 (g) "Employee" means any person who is employed in any Cashew Factory for wages for processing cashewnuts and who gets his wages directly or indirectly from the employer and includes;— any person employed by or through a Contractor or through an agent or in connection with the processing of Cashewnuts; and clerical and other staff employed in connection with processing of cashewnuts. (h) "Employer" means any persoii who employs whether directly or through an other person or whether on behalf of himself or any other person one or more employee or employees and includes any person who has a licence for the construction or extension of a Cashew Factory under the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948) and the Rules made there under. (i) "Family" means;- wife in case of male employee; husband in case of female employee; minor sons; minor daughters; father and mother who are solely dependant upon the employee U) "Form" means form appended to this scheme; (k) 'Government" means a the Government of Kerala. (I) "Government Security" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Public Debt Act, 1944 (Central Act, 18 of 1944) V "Register" means the register in which the names of the employees are registered. "Registered Worker" means an employee whose name has been entered in the register "Superannuation" means the retirement of any employee on Completing 60 years of age. "Wages" means aliremuneration paid or payable to an employee for work done or services rendered by him and includes leave and holiday wages paid or payable to him under any law or agreement for the time being in force, but does not include overtime wages, bonus and commission. (2) All other words and expressions used in this scheme but not defined shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act. CHAFFER II THE CASHEW WORKERS RELIEF AND WELFARE FUND BOARD