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Unit 2: ILO and its Contribution in Labour Welfare and Social Security

Minimum Wages Notes

The Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention (No.26),1928, (No.131), 1970 and
Recommendation (No.30),1928, deal with the provision of wage-fixing machinery and
consultation with employers and workers in minimum wage fixation.
India has ratified Convention (No.26),1928 and incorporated its provisions in the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948. The Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery (Agriculture) Con.(No.99) and
Rec.(No.89) have also influenced the contents of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

Labour Administration

The Labour Inspection Convention (No. 81), 1947 requires the governments to maintain a system
of labour inspection for the purpose of securing the enforcement of legal provisions relating to
conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work, supplying
technical information and advice to workers and employers and bringing to the notice of the
competent authorities, defects or abuses not covered by law. The Labour Inspection (Agriculture)
Con. (No. 129), 1969 deals with labour inspection in agriculture. The Labour Administration
Con. (No. 150) was later adopted in 1978.
India has ratified the Labour Inspection Convention (No.81), 1947. The existing protective labour
laws, such as those relating to factories, mines, plantations, shops and establishments, motor
transport, beedi and cigar establishments, payment of wages, minimum wages, child labour,
maternity benefit and others contain the provisions of the Convention. Conventions not ratified
by India such as (No. 129),1969 and (No.150),1978 and Recommendations (Nos.20,80 and 81) have
also influenced legislative clauses relating to labour administration and inspection.
2.6.2 Employment of Children and Young Persons

The International Labour Conference has adopted a number of Conventions and
Recommendations dealing exclusively with the employment problems of children and young
persons. Standards affecting the employment conditions of children and young persons relate to
minimum age of employment, prohibition of employment of children and young persons in
certain hazardous occupations, medical examination, night work, and preparation for
employment.

1. The Minimum Age Convention, 1921, prohibits the employment of young persons less
than 18 years in the hazardous occupation of Trimmer and Stocker at sea. The Minimum
Age (Underground Work) Conn., 1965 regulates minimum age of employment in
underground operations.
2. The Medical Examination Conventions mainly provide that young persons upto 18 years
shall be employed only after they are declared physically fit on examination by a medical
practitioner. The cost of the medical examination is to be borne by the employer.

3. The Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention prescribes restrictions on night
work of young persons in industrial undertakings. The Convention provides that children
and young persons under 18 years of age are not to be employed for work at night for a
period of 11-12 consecutive hours including the interval between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
India has ratified quite a few Conventions relating to the employment of children and young
persons. These include: (a) Minimum Age (Industry) Con.(No.5),1919; (b) Minimum Age
(Trimmers and Stockers) Con.(No.15),1921; (c) Minimum Age (Underground Work) Con.
(No.123),1965: (d) Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Con.(No.16),1921; and (e) Night
Work of Young Persons (Industry) Con.(No.6),1919 and (No.90),1948.

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