(1) In every plantation wherein three hundred or more workers are ordinarily employed the employer shall employ such number of welfare officers as may be prescribed.
     (2) The State Government may prescribe the duties, qualifications and conditions of service of officers employed under sub-section (1).
                                                    STATE AMENDMENT
    Kerala
    Amendment of Section 18.--In Section 18 of the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 (Central Act 69 of 1951) (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:--
    “(1A) If in any plantation, welfare officers are not employed as required by the rules made under sub-section (1), the chief inspector may appoint the required number of welfare officers and thereupon such officers shall be deemed to have been employed by the employee under sub-section (1):
    Provided that before appointing welfare officers under this sub-section the employer shall be given an opportunity of being heard.”
    [Vide Kerala Act 25 of 1969, s. 2.]