STATUTORY WELFARE MEASURES AND QUALITY OF WORK LIFE IN COOPERATIVE AND PRIVATE SUGAR MILLS AT TAMILNADU

Indian sugar industry has been a focal point for socio-economic development in the rural areas. About 50 million sugarcane farmers and a large number of agricultural laborers are involved in sugarcane cultivation and ancillary activities, constituting 7.5% of the rural population. Besides the industry provides employment to about 5 lakhs skilled/semi skilled workers who are mostly from the rural area, the Sugar Industry in Tamil Nadu plays an important role in the economic development of the State. Tamil Nadu is one of the leading producers of sugar in the country and its contribution of sugar production is about 10% of the country. In Tamil Nadu, there are 44 Sugar Mills functioning. Among them 16 mills are in the Cooperative Sector, 25 mills are in private Sector and 3 mills in Public Sector. A developing economy, ‘Welfare' implies wholesomeness of the human being. It involves the state of well being of the employees working in an organization. It is a desirable state of existence involving the mental, physical, moral and emotional factors of a person which increases productivity. The qualitative dimensions of employment are to provide adequate level of earnings, safe and human conditions of work and access to minimum social security benefits and so on. The welfare measures provided by the employer will further enhance the life of workers and their productivity. Quality of work life (QWL) among employees is as it entails strong participation in many of the programs organized by firms. It is an indicator to boost its employee's image in attracting and retaining them by offering quality of work life