'Wage code to entitle minimum wage to all 50 crore workers'

New Delhi: Hailing the passage of Wage Code Bill 2019, Ministry of Labour and Employment Secretary Heeralal Samariya said that the final passage of the wage code bill would entitle the entire 50 crore workforce in India of minimum wages.

While speaking at All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE), organised by FICCI, Samariya said, "Currently, 60 per cent of workers are not covered under the minimum wages Act. If the wage code becomes the law of the land, all 50 crore workers in India, including agriculture and domestic workers, will have a legal right to get minimum wages."

Highlighting the benefits of the wage code, Samariya said, "Apart from ensuring minimum wages, the government is also working to provide life with dignity even after retirement through pension scheme for workers employed in the unorganised sector. India has the world's largest workforce at 50 crore of which only 8 per cent are in the organised sector."

"As of today, provident funds, pensions or social security is only available in the organised sector. For unorganised sector workers, government has come out with Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme, which provides for a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month to all individuals," he said.