GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 43
TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020
MINIMUM WAGES OF WORKERS
43. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a)whether the Government has modified the minimum wages of the workers engaged in unorganised and agriculture sector;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether presently there exists any system to ensure that minimum wages fixed by the Government are paid to the labourers / workers; (d)if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any complaints have been received regarding the lapses in the payment of minimum wages; and
(f) if so, the details of the action taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Labour & Employment has revised minimum rates of wages for employees engaged in Scheduled employment in the Central Sphere vide its Notification dated 19th January, 2017. A statement showing comparison of Old and Revised Basic Minimum Wages for various Categories under the Scheduled Employment is at Annexure ‘A’.
In addition to the above, Variable Dearness Allowance (V.D.A) is revised every six months on the basis of Consumer Price Index. V.D.A. was last revised w.e.f. 01.04.2020. A statement showing Minimum rates of wages in the Central Sphere is at Annexure ‘B’.
(c) & (d): Under Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the enforcement is secured at two levels. In the Central Sphere the enforcement is secured through the Inspecting Officers of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) commonly designated as Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM) and the compliance in the State Sphere is ensured through the State Enforcement Machinery. The designated inspecting officers conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of any case of non-payment or underpayment of minimum wages, they direct the employers to make payment of the shortfall of wages. In case of non-compliance, penal provisions prescribed under Section 22 of the Minimum Wages Act are taken recourse to.
(e) & (f): Complaints of payment of less than minimum wages are received by office of Chief Labour Commissioner and their field offices from time to time and are redressed by inspections and filling of claims before the concerned authority as specified under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The details are enclosed as Annexure ‘C’.
