New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) Looking to bring a wave of labourreforms this year, the government will push its first labourcode -- Wage Code Bill -- in the forthcoming budget sessionwhich would enable it to set benchmark minimum wage fordifferent regions.
"Wage Code Bill will be the first labour code which wouldbe pushed for passage in the budget session. Labour ministryis expecting Parliament's select committee to table the billin the budget session beginning by the end of this month," asource said.
The draft Code on Wages Bill 2017 was introduced in theLok Sabha in August 2017. Thereafter, it was referred to theselect committee for scrutiny.
The bill seeks to combine Payment of Wages Act, 1936, theMinimum Wages Act, 1949, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, andthe Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 into one code.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment aims to combineover 44 labour laws into four broad codes in wages, industrialrelations, social security, and occupational safety, healthand working conditions.
"The other three codes are at different levels ofconsultations with the stakeholders. These bills would also bepushed for passage in the Parliament by the labour ministrythis year," the source added.
The codification of labour laws will remove themultiplicity of definitions and authorities, leading to easeof compliance without compromising wage security and socialsecurity to workers.
At present, the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act andthe Payment of Wages Act do not cover substantial number ofworkers, as the applicability of both these Acts is restrictedto scheduled employments/establishments.
However, the new Code on Wages will ensure minimum wagesto all and timely payment to employees irrespective of thesector without any wage ceiling.
The bill proposes a concept of statutory National MinimumWage for different geographical areas. It will ensure that nostate fixes the minimum wage below the benchmark decided bythe Centre for that particular area.
It also provides for an appellate authority between theclaim authority and the judicial forum which will lead tospeedy, cheaper and efficient redressal of grievances andsettlement of claims.
It also provides for rationalisation of penalties fordifferent types of violations. PTI KKSABM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.