Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The reason for enactment of Minimum Wages Act, 1948 was poor bargaining power of workers’ organisation in the country. The need for having minimum wage fixing machinery was stressed by the International Labour Organisation long back in 1928. Like the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, this Act also is exhaustively amended by many states to widen its application and its scope.

Applicability

Any person who directly or through Contractor/Agency or other person whether for himself or for any other persons employees one or more employees in any schedule employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed under this Act.

Eligibility of Employees

Any person who is employed for hire or reward to do any work in a schedule employment and include an outdoor worker to whom any articles or materials are given for doing some work either at home or any other premises.

Benifits Under Acts

The Act prescribes the minimum rates of wages payable to employees for different scheduled employments for different classes of work and for adults, adolescents, and apprentices depending upon different localities, for one or more wage periods, viz. by hours, by the day, month or other large period. The Act has been extended to cover employees in the unorganized sector.