The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

Preamble

INDEX THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 Sec. Particulars Introduction 1. Short title and extent 2. Interpretation 3. Fixing of minimum rates of wages 4. Minimum rate of wages 5. Procedure for fixing and revising minimum wages 6. [Repealed] 7. Advisory Board 8. Central Advisory Board 9. 10. Correction of errors 11. Wages in kind Composition of committeesOW Payment of minimum rates of wages 13. Fixing hours for normal working day, etc. 14. Overtime 15. Wages of worker who works for less than normal working day 16. Wages for two or more classes of work 17. Minimum time rate wages for piece work 18. Maintenance of registers and records Inspectors 20. Claims 21 Single application in respect of a number of employees 22. Penalties for certain offences 22A. General provision for punishment of other offences 22B. Cognizance of offences Sec. Particulars 22C. Offences by companies 22D. Payment of un-disbursed amounts due to employees 22E. Protection against attachment of assets of employer with Government 22F. Application of Payment of Wages Act, 1936 to scheduled employments 23. Exemption of employer from liability in certain cases 24. Bar of suits 25. Contracting out 26. Exemptions and exceptions 27. Power of State Government to add to Schedule 28. Power of the Central Government to give directions 29. Power of the Central Government to make rules 30. Power of appropriate Government to make rules 30 A. Rules made by the Central Government to be laid before Parliament 31. Validation of fixation of certain minimum rates of wages ... THE SCHEDULE .- [Scheduled Employment-See section 2(g) and 27] THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 INTRODUCTION The concept of minimum wages first evolved with reference to remuneration of workers in those industries where the level of wages was substantially low as compared to the wages for similar types of labour in other industries. As far back as 1928, the International Labour Conference of International Labour Organisation, at Geneva, adopted a draft convention on minimum wages requiring the member countries to create and maintain a machinery whereby minimum rates of wages can be fixed for workers employed in industries in which no arrangements exist for the effective regulation of wages and where wages are exceptionally low. Also, at the Preparatory Asian Regional Labour Conference of International Labour Organisation held at New Delhi in 1947 and then at the 3rd session of the Asian Regional Labour Conference, it was approved that every effort should be made to improve wage standards in industries and occupations in Asian Countries, where they are still low. Thus, the need of a legislation for fixation of minimum wages in India received an impetus after World War II, on account of the necessity of protecting the interest of demobilised personnel seeking employment in industries. To provide for machinery for fixing and revision of minimum wages a draft Bill was prepared and discussed at the 7th session of the Indian Labour Conference in November, 1945. Thereupon the Minimum Wages Bill was introduced in the Central Legislative Assembly. STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS 1. The justification for statutory fixation of minimum wage is obvious. Such provisions which exist in more advanced countries are even necessary in India, where workers' organizations are yet poorly developed and the workers' bargaining power is consequently poor. 2. The Bill provides for fixation by the Provincial Governments of minimum wages for employments covered by Schedule to the Bill. The items in the Schedule are those where sweated labour is more prevalent or where there is a big chance of exploitation of labour. After sometime, when some experience is gained, more categories of employment can be added and the Bill provides for addition to the Schedule. A higher period is allowed for fixation of minimum wages for agricultural labour as administrative difficulties in this case will be more than in other employments covered by the Schedule. The

Sections

Type to filter. 27 sections.

1. 1Short title and extent
2. 2Interpretation
3. 3Fixing of minimum rates of wages
4. 4Minimum rate of wages
5. 6Advisory committees and sub-committees
6. 7Advisory Board
7. 8Central Advisory Board
8. 9Composition of committees, etc
9. 11Wages in kind
10. 12Payment of minimum rates of wages
11. 13Fixing hours for normal working day, etc
12. 14Overtime
13. 15Wages of worker who works for less than normal working day
14. 16Wages for two or more classes of work
15. 17Minimum time rate wages for piece work
16. 18Maintenance of registers and records
17. 19Inspectors
18. 20Claims
19. 21Single application in respect of a number of employees
20. 23Exemption of employer from liability in certain cases
21. 24Bar of suits
22. 25Contracting out
23. 26Exemptions and exceptions
24. 27Power of State Government to add to Schedule
25. 28Power of the Central Government to give directions
26. 29Power of the Central Government to make rules
27. 30Power of appropriate Government to make rules