Soon, Delhi govt to send clarifications on Minimum Wages Bill to Centre

The Centre had sought some clarifications on some clauses of the proposed Minimum Wages Amendment Bill 2015. Labour Minister Gopal Rai said his department has prepared replies which have been sent to the Delhi government’s Law department for its observation and thereafter, clarifications will be sent to the Centre. The minister said the Centre has raised concerns over some points in the proposal which include widening the ambit of people who can register complaint against his or her employer for violation.

According to Rai, as per the existing rule, individual or a trade union only can register complaint if there is any violation of the law. “In the Minimum Wages Amendment Bill 2015 tabled in Assembly in December last year, we proposed to widen the ambit and allow even NGOs and social organisations working for the welfare of labourers to file the same against employers,” the Labour Minister said.

The proposed law also favours to increase punishment from existing jail term from six months up to three years. Thereafter, the AAP dispensation had sent it to the Centre for its approval. Last month too, the government had proposed to revise the minimum wages in the Capital by about 50 per cent.

“In Amendment Bill, government has proposed to increase monetary punishment from Rs 500 to up to 20,000. Centre has also sought clarification over proposal to replace the phrase ‘appropriate government’ with the government of National Capital of Delhi,” a senior government official said.