19. Weekly hours.—1
[(1)] Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, no adult worker shall be
required or allowed to work on any plantation in excess of 2
[forty-eight hours] a week and no adolescent
3
*** for more than 4
[twenty-seven hours] a week.
5
[(2) Where an adult worker works in any plantation on any day in excess of the number of hours
constituting a normal working day or for more than forty-eight hours in any week, he shall, in respect of
such overtime work, be entitled to twice the rates of ordinary wages:
Provided that no such worker shall be allowed to work for more than nine hours on any day and more
than fifty-four hours in any week.
(3) For any work done on any closed holiday in the plantation or on any day of rest, a worker shall be
entitled to twice the rates of ordinary wages as in the case of overtime work.]
20. Weekly holidays.— (1) The State Government may by rules made in this behalf—
(a) provide for a day of rest in every period of seven days which shall be allowed to all workers;
1. Section 19 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 58 of 1981, s. 9 (w.e.f. 26-1-1982).
2. Subs. by s. 9, ibid, for "fifty-four hours" (w.e.f. 26-1-1982).
3. The words “or child’ omitted by Act 17 of 2010, s. 6 (w.e.f. 7-6-2010).
4. Subs. by Act 58 of 1981, s. 9, for “forty hours” (w.e.f. 26-1-1982).
5. Ins. by s. 9, ibid. (w.e.f. 6-1-1982).
16
1
[(b) provide for the conditions subject to which, and the circumstances in which, an adult worker
may be required or allowed to work overtime.]
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (a) of sub- section (1) where a worker is willing
to work on any day of rest which is not a closed holiday in the plantation, nothing contained in this
section shall prevent him from doing so:
Provided that in so doing a worker does not work for more than ten days consecutively without a
holiday for a whole day intervening.
Explanation 1.—Where on any day a worker has been prevented from working in any plantation
by reason of tempest, fire, rain or other natural causes, that day, may, if he so desires, be treated as his
day of rest for the relevant period of seven days within the meaning of sub-section (1).
Explanation 2.—Nothing contained in this section shall apply to any worker whose total period of
employment including any day spent on leave is less than six days.
21. Daily intervals for rest.—The period of work on each day shall be so fixed that no period shall
exceed five hours and that no worker shall work for more than five hours before he has had an interval for
rest for at least half an hour.
22. Spreadover.—The period of work of an adult worker in a plantation shall be so arranged that
inclusive of his interval for rest under section 2
[21] it shall not spreadover more than twelve hours
including the time spent in waiting for work on any day.
23. Notice of period of work.—(1) There shall be displayed and correctly maintained in every
plantation a notice of periods of work in such form and manner as may be prescribed showing clearly for
every day the periods during which the workers may be required to work.
(2) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, no worker shall be required or allowed to
work in any plantation otherwise than in accordance with the notice of periods of work displayed in the
plantation.
(3) An employer may refuse to employ a worker for any day if on that day he turns up for work more
than half an hour after the time fixed for the commencement of the day's work.
3
[24. Prohibition of employment of children.—No child shall be employed to work in any
plantation.]
25. Night work for women 4
***.—Except with the permission of the State Government, no woman
5
*** worker shall be employed in any plantation otherwise than between the hours of 6 A.M. and 7 P.M.:
Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to midwives and nurses employed as
such in any plantation.
1. Subs. by Act 58 of 1981, s. 10, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 26-1-1982).
2. Subs. by Act 42 of 1953, s. 4 and the Third Schedule, for “19”.
3. Ins. by Act 17 of 2010, s. 7 (we.f. 7-6-2010).
4. The words “and children” omitted by s. 8, ibid. (we.f. 7-6-2010).
5. The words “or child” omitted by s. 8, ibid. (we.f. 7-6-2010).
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26. Non-adult workers to carry tokens.— No 1
*** adolescent shall be required or allowed to work
in any plantation unless—
(a) a certificate of fitness granted with reference to him under section 27 is in the custody of the
employer; and
(b) such 2
*** adolescent carries with him while he is at work a token giving a references to such
certificate.
27. Certificate of fitness.—(1) A certifying surgeon shall, on the application of any young person or
his parent or guardian accompanied by a document signed by the employer or any other person on his
behalf that such person will be employed in the plantation if certified to be fit for work, or on the
application of the employer or any other person on his behalf with reference to any young person
intending to work, examine such person and ascertain his fitness for work 3
*** as an adolescent.
(2) A certificate of fitness granted under this section shall be valid for a period of twelve months from
the date thereof, but may be renewed.
(3) Any fee payable for a certificate under this section shall be paid by the employer and shall not be
recoverable from the young person, his parents or guardian.
28. Power to require medical examination.—An inspector may, if he thinks necessary so to do,
cause any young person employed in a plantation to be examined by a certifying surgeon.