The Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Act, 1979

FUND ACT, 1979

Preamble. Sections:

1. (1) This Act may be called the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Act, 1979.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Kerala.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
4. (4) 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).

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. (a) “Board” means the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Board constituted under section 7;
2. (b) “contribution” means the contribution payable by an employer or employee 1[or the Government] under the scheme;
3. (c) “cashew factory” means a factory wherein processing of cashewnuts is being carried on and which is registered and license under the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948);
4. (d) “employer” means any person who employs, whether directly or through another 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 of extension of a cashew factory under the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948) and the rules made thereunder;
5. (e) “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—
   • (i) any person employed by or through a contractor or through an agent in or in Received the assent of President on the 30th day of July, 1984 and published in the Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 742 dated 22-08-1984. connection with the processing of cashewnuts; and
   • (ii) clerical and other staff employed in connection with the processing of cashewnuts;
6. (f) “Fund” means the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund established under the scheme;
7. (g) “member” means any employee who contributes to the Fund;
8. (h) “processing”, with reference to cashewnuts, means loading, unloading, transporting, stacking, unstacking, soaking, roasting, shelling, frying, peeling, grading, filling, packing or otherwise treating or adapting cashewnuts, with a view to their use, delivery, sale or other disposal, and includes work connected with the maintenance of processed cashewnuts;
   • (i) “scheme” means the scheme framed under this Act;
9. (j) “State” means the State of Kerala;
10. (k) “wages” means all remuneration 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 allowance, bonus and commission.

1. (1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, frame a scheme to be called the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Scheme for the establishment of a Fund under this Act and there shall be established, as soon as may be after the framing of the scheme, a Fund to be called the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the scheme.
2. (2) There shall be credited to the Fund—
   • (a) the contributions to be paid by 2[the Government, employers and employees] under section 5;
   • (b) any voluntary donations;
   • (c) grants or advances made by the Central Government or the Government of Kerala or any local authority; and
   • (d) any other amount which, under the provisions of the scheme, shall be credited to the Fund.
3. (3) The Fund shall vest in, and be administered by, the Board.
4. (4) Subject to the provision of this Act, the scheme may provide for all or any of the matters specified in the Schedule.
5. (5) The scheme shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is framed, before the Legislative Assembly 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 modification in the scheme, the scheme shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form; so however that any such modification shall be without prejudice to the validity of any thing previously done under the scheme.

Subject to the provisions of this Act and the scheme, the Fund shall be expended for the following purposes, namely:—

1. (a) payment of relief wages to employees in cashew factories when there is no work in those factories; and 3[(aa) payment of pension,—
   • (i) to an employee who is unable to work due to old age or infirmity or who has completed the age of sixty years; and 4[(iA) to an employee of a cashew factory retired before or after the commencement of this Act on attaining the age of superannuation as per the rules of the concerned cashew factory and is out of employment ; and]
   • (ii) to a person who, before the commencement of this Act was an employee and completed the age of sixty years or who suffers from permanent disablement and is out of employment; and
2. (aaa) payment of ,—
   • (i) family pension to the spouse of a deceased employee;
   • (ii) financial assistance to an employee who suffers from permanent or temporary disablement;
   • (iii) 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;
   • (iv) for providing,—
3. (a) 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;
4. (b) medical facilities to those employees and members of their families who are not eligible for such benefits under any other law for the time being in force;
5. (c) facilities for education to the employees and members of their families; and 3 Inserted by Act 2 of 1988 (w.e.f 28-01-1988). 4 Added by Act 9 of 1990 (w.e.f 15-11-1988). Explanation.— For the purpose of the above clause (aaa) family means and includes the following relatives of the employee, namely:—
6. (a) wife in case of male employee;
7. (b) husband in case of female employee;
8. (c) minor sons;
9. (d) minor daughters;
10. (e) father and mother who are solely dependent upon the employee.]
11. (b) payment of such other amount as may be specified in the scheme.

1. (1) The contribution which shall be paid by an employer to the Fund shall be at the rate of 5[6[two rupees] for each employee for each day of work done by him in the cashew factory.]
2. (2) The contribution which shall be paid by an employee shall be at the rate of 7[two rupees] for every day of work done by him in the cashew factory.] 8[(2A) The amount of contribution due for the period prior to the date of publication of the Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and 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 Government.]
3. (3) The employees' 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. 9[(3A) The Government shall contribute to the Fund every year by way of grant 10[an amount equal to half the amount of] contribution paid by employees under sub-section (2).]
4. (4) 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, halfa-rupee or quarter of a rupee.

1. (1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, add to, amend or vary the scheme either prospectively or retrospectively.
2. (2) Every notification under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is issued, before the Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total period of 5 Substituted by Act 9 of 1990 (w.e.f 15-11-1988). 6 Substituted by Act 25 of 2021 (w.e.f. 10-02-2021). 7 Substituted by Act 25 of 2021 (w.e.f. 10-02-2021). 8 Inserted by Act 9 of 1990 (w.e.f 15-11-1988). 9 Substituted by Act 16 of 2003 (w.e.f 12-08-2003). 10 Substituted by Act 25 of 2021 (w.e.f. 10-02-2021). 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 modification 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.

1. (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 Kerala 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.
2. (2) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
3. (3) 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.
4. (4) One of the Directors of the Board shall be appointed by the Government as its Chairman.
5. (5) The Chairman shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be specified in the scheme. 11[xxxx]
6. (7) The Government shall publish in the Gazette the names of the Chairman, 12[xxxx] and the other Directors of the Board.
7. (8) The Board shall administer the Fund vested in it in such manner as may be specified in the scheme.

1. (1) The Government may appoint a Chief Executive Officer and as many Inspectors as they consider necessary to assist the Chief Executive Officer in the exercise of his powers and the discharge of his duties.
2. (2) The Board may, with the previous approval of the Government, appoint such officers and other employees as it may consider necessary for assisting it in the administration of the Fund.
3. (3) The method of recruitment, salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service of the Chief Executive Officer and the Inspectors shall be such as may be specified by the Government, and the method of recruitment, salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service of the officers and other employees appointed by 11 Omitted by Act 2 of 1988 (w.e.f. 28-01-1988). 12 Omitted by Act 2 of 1988 (w.e.f. 28-01-1988). the Board shall be such as may be specified by the Board with the previous approval of the Government.
4. (4) In making appointments to the posts of officers and other employees to be appointed by the Board, the provisions of the clauses (a), (b) and (c) of rule 14 and the provisions of rules 15, 16 and 17 of the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958, as amended from time to time, shall, mutatis mutandis, be observed.

Every employer shall, before the 10th of every

month, file a return showing the details of contributions paid into the fund, in such manner as may be specified in the scheme.

1. (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. (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 5 of 1908), when trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:—
   • (a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
   • (b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
   • (c) receiving evidence on affidavit;
   • (d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses.
3. (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. (4) No order determining the amount due from any employer shall be made under sub-section (1) unless the employer has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
5. (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.

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 provisionally determine the amount due from that employer to the Fund:

Provided that no provisional assessment shall be made final till the party is given an opportunity of being heard.

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.

1. (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 representation, shall 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.
2. (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.

1. (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. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), an offence under sub section (1) shall be cognizable.

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 which may extent to one year, but which shall not be less than three months and with fine which may extend to four thousand rupees.

Where an offence under this Act has been committed 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 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.

1. (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 attributable to any neglect on the part of, any Director, Manager, Secretary or other officer of 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,—
   • (a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
   • (b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

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 Government 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.

1. (1) The Government may, at any time, appoint any person to inquire into the working of the Board and to submit a report to the Government.
2. (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.

1. (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 provisions of this Act or the scheme or has exceeded or abused its powers, the Government may by notification in the Gazette, supersede the Board for such period not exceeding six months as may be specified in the notification: Provided that, before issuing a notification under this sub-section, the Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the board to show cause why it should not be superseded and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of the Board.
2. (2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1),—
   • (a) all the Directors of the Board shall, as from the date such publication, vacate their offices as such Directors;
   • (b) 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, during the period of supersession, vest in the Government.
3. (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.

Where an employer makes default in the payment of

any contribution due to the Fund under this Act, the Government may recover from the employer damages not exceeding twenty-five per cent of the amount of arrears as they may think fit to impose.

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.

No civil court shall have jurisdiction to settle,

decide or deal with any question or to determine any matter which is by or under this Act require to be settle, decided or dealt with or to be determined by the Government or the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or any Inspector.

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 Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860).

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.

If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the

provisions of this Act or of the scheme, the Government may, 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.

Matters for which provisions may be made in the Scheme 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 issued or 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 payment of relief wages to the workers during the period of closure of cashew factories. 13[5A. The amount and the conditions and procedures for the payment of pension, family pension, grant and advances from the fund. 5B. The purposes for which the fund may be utilised for the welfare 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. 13 Inserted by Act 2 of 1988 (w.e.f 28-01-1988). 7. The form or design of any identify card, token or disc for the purpose of identifying any employee; and for issue, custody and replacement thereof. 8. The fee to be levied for any of the purposes specified in this Schedule. 9. The further powers, if any, which may be exercised by the Chief Executive 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 implementing the scheme. ___