Minimum Wages Act, 1948

What is Minimum Wages Act, 1948?

Minimum Wages Act, 1948 ensures workers receive fair compensation and don’t face any form of abuse. The International Labour Organisation defines minimum wage as the lowest amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or an individual contract. The purpose of this act is to protect the workers from unduly low pay enable them to earn adequate wages for the work done by them and maintain a minimum living standard of workers....

Objectives of Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The objectives of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 are as follows:...

Need for Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The minimum wages set for laborers in India are so low that, even after deducting the costs of housing, healthcare, and education, there is barely enough money for two meals a day. There should be two main reasons why minimum wages for workers should be set:...

Essential Provisions of Minimum Wages Act, 1948

1. Fixing and Revision of Wages:...

Constitutional Validity of the Act

The court heard several challenges to this Act’s constitutional validity. The judiciary; however, was crucial in establishing the constitutional validity of the Act, which safeguards the workers’ rights to education, healthcare, food, shelter, and clothing, among other necessities. The judiciary has declared that paying employees less than the minimum wage is equivalent to using forced labor....

Conclusion

In order to protect the rights and interests of workers employed in certain scheduled classes of employment as defined by the act, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 was passed. The act aims to give workers fair employment opportunities and sufficient compensation to maintain a respectable standard of living. The provisions of the act include setting working hours during a typical workday and reversing wages every five years, demonstrating how they guard against the mistreatment of employees. The act also creates committees and advisory boards that employees can contact to pursue remedies in situations where their employers fail to pay their wages or pay them late....

Minimum Wages Act, 1948- FAQs

What is Minimum Wages Act, 1948?...