Reportedly in the face of increasing criticism and negative public perception over the plight of migrant laborers, the Centre is now pushing for a more wholesome assessment of minimum wage for workers. The government of india has issued a gazette notification for draft rules for the 'Code of Wages' law which is expected to benefit 50 crore workers across the country. After presenting the rules in the form of a gazette notification on tuesday, the Centre has invited suggestions that will be considered before a final draft is accepted.
These rules come a year after parliament had passed the Code on Wages Bill, allowing the Centre to set a minimum statutory wage. Minimum wage rules do not just incorporate livelihood but also wellbeing, said the government. It had added that the power to fix minimum wages will stay with the Central and state governments. First in a series of four labor codes proposed as part of the Centre's labor reform initiative, the minimum wage law asserted that the government would fix a minimum wage on the basis of geography and skills.
The draft rules notification also comes in the wake of severe criticism faced by multiple states over their decisions to dilute laws governing labor welfare as part of an attempt to restart economic activity post the nationwide lockdown to contain novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, the skilled category comprises 320 types of occupations, including munshi, typist, bookkeeper, librarian, hindi translator, and data entry operator among others. In a considerable departure from the past, the draft rules propose that every employer has to issue wage slips, electronically or physically, to the employees. This would add to transparency and reduce harassment of workers.
