(1) The Fund shall vest in, and be held and applied by, the Board as trustees subject to the provisions and for the purposes of this Act. The moneys therein shall be utilized by the Board to defray the cost of carrying out measures which may be specified by the State Government from time to time to promote the welfare of labour and of their dependants.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), the money in the Fund may be utilized by the Board to defray expenditure on the following:-
(a) community and social education centres including reading rooms and libraries;
Vesting and application of Fund
(b) community necessities;
(c) games and sports;
(d) excursions, tours and holiday homes;
(e) entertainment and other forms of recreation;
(f) home industries and subsidiary occupations for women and unemployed persons;
(g) corporate activities of a social nature;
(h) cost of administering this Act including the allowances, if any , payable to the Chairman and members of the Board and the salaries and allowances of the staff appointed for the purposes of this Act; and
(i) such other objects as would in the opinion of the State Government improve the standard of living and ameliorate the social conditions of labour:
Provided that the Fund shall not be utilized in financing any measure which the employer is required under any law for the time being in force to carry out:
Provided further that unpaid accumulations and fines shall be paid to the Board and be expended by it under this Act notwithstanding anything contained in the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, or any other law for the time being in force.
(3) The Board may, with the approval of the State Government make a grant of the Fund to any local authority or any other body except an employer in aid of any activity for the welfare of labour and of their dependants approved by the State Government.
(4) If any question arises whether any particular expenditure is or is not debitable to the Fund, the matter shall be referred to the State Government and the decision of the State Government on such reference shall be final.
(5) It shall be lawful for the Board to continue any activity financed from the welfare fund of any establishment if the said fund is duly transferred to the Board.
11. The Board may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, and subject to the provisions of this Act and to such conditions as may be specified in this behalf, borrow any sum required for the purposes of this Act.
12. Where the Fund or any portion thereof cannot be applied for some time for the purposes of this Act, the Board shall invest the same in such manner and in such securities as may be prescribed.
13. The State Government may give the Board such directions as in its opinion are necessary or expedient in connection with expenditure from the Fund or for carrying out the other purposes of this Act; and it shall be the duty of the Board to comply with such directions.