Prez okays Delhi minimum wages amendment Bill
BY Sayantan Ghosh8 May 2018 11:33 PM IST
Sayantan Ghosh9 May 2018 5:04 AM IST
NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Delhi government's proposed bill to amend the Minimum Wages Act under which employers violating labour rules now stare at penalties ranging from Rs 20,000-50,000 and the jail term between one to three years. "Finally, the Central Government gives its approval for the minimum wages amendment bill after several months. This will act as a strong deterrent against those employers who do not pay full minimum wages. Delhi government will take strong action against such people," said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The department of law, justice and legislative affairs of Delhi government has issued a notification, making it mandatory for employers to pay remuneration of labour either electronically or through cheque, except in exceptional circumstances. In March last year, LG Anil Baijal had approved the AAP government's decision to hike by 37 percent the minimum wages of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers. For an unskilled worker, the minimum wage is Rs 13,350 per month while for semi-skilled, it is Rs 14,698. The minimum wage for skilled workers is Rs 16,182 in the national Capital. Later in August, the Delhi Assembly had again passed "The Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Act, 2017", after the Centre had asked the AAP dispensation to re-introduce the Bill with some changes in the Assembly. The first Bill had been tabled in 2015.
According to the notification issued on May 4, the court before whom the prosecution complaint is made under Section 22 of the Act will dispose of the same within a month from the date of the making of the complaint. The employer will upload the employee data on the website or web portal in the manner as may be prescribed, the notification stated.
It stated that the words "shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both," will be replaced by punishable with imprisonment for a term of three years, or with fine of fifty thousand rupees, or with both."
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