Gazette notification for uniform wage structure soon

NEW DELHI: Government will soon issue a gazette notification for a uniform wage structure to reduce the disparity across the country.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told Lok Sabha that an inter-ministerial group constituted by the Labour Ministry has submitted its report to the government and the new minimum wages will be fixed on the basis of that report.

"The gazette notification will be issued soon," he said during Question Hour.

Currently the minimum wage is fixed at Rs 137. Dattatreya said as a step towards moving for a uniform wage structure, as recommended by the National Commission of Rural Labour and to reduce the disparity in minimum wages across the country, the concept of National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) has been introduced in 1996.

"It is revised from time to time taking into account the increase in consumer price index for industrial workers. State government and Union Territory administrations are also advised to ensure NFLMW in their respective state and union territory," he said.

The Minister said under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, both the central and state governments can fix and revise the minimum wages of the workers employed in the scheduled employments under their respective jurisdictions.

"Since fixation of wages depends on factors like local conditions, cost of living, there are differences in the rates of minimum wages fixed by the appropriate governments," he said.