REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 FOR
THE YEAR 2006
PREFACE
The passing of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 was a landmark in statutory wage regulations in India. The Act provides for fixation / periodic revision of minimum wages in the scheduled employments where labour is vulnerable to exploitation. The minimum wages system serves a useful purpose in preventing workers’ exploitation in terms of payment of unduly low wage and helps in reducing inequalities in the standard of living of different social groups of workers by statutorily prescribing minimum wage rates. This helps in reducing poverty and improving the position of low paid wage earners in the sweated industries.
The Labour Bureau brings out an annual report on the working of Minimum Wages Act, 1948 based on the information received in the statutory return prescribed under the Act. The present report pertains to the year 2006. It presents information on employments added, employments in which the Minimum Wages were fixed for the first time, the minimum wages in different scheduled employments prevalent during the year, the range of Minimum Wages, comparative Minimum Wage Rates prevailing in schedule employments and number of Inspections etc. Information contained in this report is based on the Annual Returns received from the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) as well as the authorities of the State Governments and Union Territories. The Labour Bureau, therefore, expresses its gratitude to all the responding source agencies for their co-operation. I would also like to express my appreciation for the efforts put in by Officers and Staff of the Wages Section of Labour Bureau, Chandigarh, whose names appear in Annexure V.
The views expressed, if any, are not necessarily those of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
Suggestions for improvement are welcome.
DR. K.S.R.V.S.CHALAM
DIRECTOR GENERAL
Dated: 15th June, 2009