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Unit 9: Minimum Wages Act, 1948

 It extends to the whole of India and applies to scheduled employments in respect of which Notes
minimum rates of wages have been fixed under this Act.

 The appropriate government shall fix the minimum rates of wages payable to employees
employed in a scheduled employment.
 It may review at such intervals not exceeding five years the minimum rates of wages so
fixed, and revise the minimum rates if necessary.
 The employer shall pay to every employee in a scheduled employment under him wages
at the rate not less than the minimum rates of wages fixed under the Act.

 The Act also provides for regulation or working hours, overtime, weekly holidays and
overtime wages. Period and payment of wages, and deductions from wages are also
regulated.
 The Act provides for appointment the authorities to hear and decide all claims arising out
of payment less than the minimum rates of wages or any other monetary payments due
under the Act. The presiding officers of the Labour court and Deputy Labour Commissioners
are the authorities appointed.

9.6 Keywords

Adolescent: “Adolescent” means a person who has completed his fourteenth year of age but has
not completed his eighteenth year.
Adult: “Adult” means a person who has completed his eighteenth year of age.

Appropriate government: “Appropriate government” means: (i) in relation to any scheduled
employment carried on by or under the authority of the Central Government or a railway
administration] or in relation to a mine oil field or major port or any corporation established by
a Central Act the Central Government and (ii) in relation to any other scheduled employment
the State Government.
Child: “Child” means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age.
Competent authority: “Competent authority” means the authority appointed by the appropriate
government by notification in its Official Gazette to ascertain from time to time the cost of
living index number applicable to the employees employed in the scheduled employments
specified in such notification.
Cost of living index number: “Cost of living index number” in relation to employees in any
scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed means the
index number ascertained and declared by the competent authority by notification in the Official
Gazette to be the cost of living index number applicable to employee in such employment.

Prescribed: “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
Schedule employment: “Schedule employment” means an employment specified in the Schedule
or any process or branch of work forming part of such employment.

9.7 Review Questions

1. Enumerate the procedure for fixing and revising the minimum wages.
2. What are the provisions regarding fixing of wages?
3. What are provisions related to revision of wages?

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