Upload File

print article _ the constitutional validity of the minimum wages act,1948

  • Home
  • Documents
  • Print Article _ the Constitutional Validity of the Minimum Wages Act,1948
4
Shastree's Profile and details Name: Aniruddh Shastree Resource consultant, recruiter, assisting in client acquisition. Masters from I.L.S.Law College & MBA(HR). The Constitutional Validity of The Minimum Wages Act,1948 Source : Author : Shastree Published on : March 01, 2015 The Constitutional Validity of The Minimum Wages Act,1948 India introduced the Minimum Wages Act in 1948, giving both the Central government and State government jurisdiction in fixing wages. The act is legally nonbinding, but statutory. Payment of wages below the minimum wage rate amounts to forced labour. Wage Boards are set up to review the industry’s capacity to pay and fix minimum wages such that they at least cover a family of four’s requirements of calories, shelter, clothing, education, medical assistance, and entertainment. Under the law, wage rates in scheduled employments differ across states, sectors, skills, regions and occupations owing to difference in costs of living, regional industries' capacity to pay, consumption patterns, etc. Hence, there is no single uniform minimum wage rate across the country and the structure has become overly complex. (A) The act is not unreasonable: It can scarcely be disputed that securing of living wages to labourers which ensure not only bare physical subsistence but also the maintenance of health and decency is conducive to the general interest of the public. This is one of the directive principles of the state policy embodied in Article 43 of the constitution. Individual employers might find it difficult to carry on the business on the basis of minimum wages fixed under the Act but this must be not be the entire premise and reason to strike down the law itself as unreasonable. “ The restrictions, though they interfere to some extent with the freedom of trade or business guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) of the constitution, are reasonable and , being imposed on the general interest of the general public, are protected by the terms of the clause (6) of the article 19.” This quote is a part of judgment in the case “ Gulmuhommad Tarasaheb , a bidi factory by its proprietors Shamrao vs State of Bombay, AIR 1962 Bom 97: AIR1955, Sc33:1963, Ker 115: 1964 Tri 32. An another important judgment that favours and supports the constitutional Valitity of the Minimum Wages Act,1948 is , “ V. Unichonoy vs State of Kerala,1962, SC12. This case raised the same questions which were raised in the case of Gulmuhommad Tarasaheb vs State of Bombay, AIR 1962 Bom 97”., which were , “that , can a state be prevented from making any law, in the interest of general public, where it creates restrictions and interferes to some extent with the freedom of trade or business guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) , of the Constitution of India, and it was held that , “ Fixation of minimum wages is for preservation of

Upload: aprajeet-ankit-singh

Post on 19-Dec-2015

215 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

Report

DESCRIPTION

fbsbfbsukbfkbskfbksbfkbsf

TRANSCRIPT

  • 03/05/2015 PrintArticle:TheConstitutionalValidityofTheMinimumWagesAct,1948

    http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/print.php?art_id=1770 1/4

    Shastree'sProfileanddetails

    Name:AniruddhShastreeResourceconsultant,

    recruiter,assistinginclientacquisition.MastersfromI.L.S.LawCollege&MBA(HR).

    TheConstitutionalValidityofTheMinimumWagesAct,1948

    Source:Author:ShastreePublishedon:March01,2015

    TheConstitutionalValidityofTheMinimumWagesAct,1948IndiaintroducedtheMinimumWagesActin1948,givingboththeCentralgovernmentandStategovernmentjurisdictioninfixingwages.Theactislegallynonbinding,butstatutory.Paymentofwagesbelowtheminimumwagerateamountstoforcedlabour.WageBoardsaresetuptoreviewtheindustryscapacitytopayandfixminimumwagessuchthattheyatleastcoverafamilyoffoursrequirementsofcalories,shelter,clothing,education,medicalassistance,andentertainment.Underthelaw,wageratesinscheduledemploymentsdifferacrossstates,sectors,skills,regionsandoccupationsowingtodifferenceincostsofliving,regionalindustries'capacitytopay,consumptionpatterns,etc.Hence,thereisnosingleuniformminimumwagerateacrossthecountryandthestructurehasbecomeoverlycomplex.

    (A)Theactisnotunreasonable:Itcanscarcelybedisputedthatsecuringoflivingwagestolabourerswhichensurenotonlybarephysicalsubsistencebutalsothemaintenanceofhealthanddecencyisconducivetothegeneralinterestofthepublic.ThisisoneofthedirectiveprinciplesofthestatepolicyembodiedinArticle43oftheconstitution.

    IndividualemployersmightfinditdifficulttocarryonthebusinessonthebasisofminimumwagesfixedundertheActbutthismustbenotbetheentirepremiseandreasontostrikedownthelawitselfasunreasonable.

    Therestrictions,thoughtheyinterferetosomeextentwiththefreedomoftradeorbusinessguaranteedunderArticle19(1)(g)oftheconstitution,arereasonableand,beingimposedonthegeneralinterestofthegeneralpublic,areprotectedbythetermsoftheclause(6)ofthearticle19.ThisquoteisapartofjudgmentinthecaseGulmuhommadTarasaheb,abidifactorybyitsproprietorsShamraovsStateofBombay,AIR1962Bom97:AIR1955,Sc33:1963,Ker115:1964Tri32.

    AnanotherimportantjudgmentthatfavoursandsupportstheconstitutionalValitityoftheMinimumWagesAct,1948is,V.UnichonoyvsStateofKerala,1962,SC12.ThiscaseraisedthesamequestionswhichwereraisedinthecaseofGulmuhommadTarasahebvsStateofBombay,AIR1962Bom97.,whichwere,that,canastatebepreventedfrommakinganylaw,intheinterestofgeneralpublic,whereitcreatesrestrictionsandinterferestosomeextentwiththefreedomoftradeorbusinessguaranteedunderArticle19(1)(g),oftheConstitutionofIndia,anditwasheldthat,Fixationofminimumwagesisforpreservationof

  • 03/05/2015 PrintArticle:TheConstitutionalValidityofTheMinimumWagesAct,1948

    http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/print.php?art_id=1770 2/4

    publicorder,andifnominimumwageisfixedthenitshallleadtoarbitrarinessbytheemployersandthatshallleadtoclashesofinterestbetweenemployerandlabourwhichshallcausefrictioninsociety.

    Thearticle14oftheIndianConstitutionwhichrelatestoequalitybeforethelaw,itmustbenotedthatminimumwagesarenotfixedequallyacrossthewholenationbuttheyvaryfromoccupationtooccupationandindustrytoindustryandfromplacetoplace.

    ThecaseofUchinoyvsStateofKerala,1962SC12,furtherquotesthefollowing,Asregardstotheprocedureforfixingoftheminimumwages,theappropriategovernmenthasundoubtedlybeengivenverylargepowers,butithastotakeintoconsideration,beforefixingwages,theadviceofthecommitteeifoneisappointedontherepresentationsonproposalsmadebypersonswhoarelikelytobeaffectedthereby.Thevariousprovisionsconstituteanadequatesafeguardagainstanyhastyorcapriciousdecisionbytheappropriategovernment.Insuitablecases,theappropriategovernmenthasalsobeengiventhepowerofgrantingexemptionsfromtheoperationsoftheprovisionsoftheAct.Thereisnoprovisionundoubtedly,forafurtherreviewofthedecisionoftheappropriategovernment,butthatitselfwouldnotmaketheprovisionsoftheactunreasonable.

    (B)TheActdoesn'tviolateArticle14oftheIndianConstitution.

    OnacarefulexaminationofthevariousoftheActandthemachinerysetupbythisAct,Section3(3)(iv)neithercontraveneArticle19(1)oftheconstitutionnordoesitinfringetheequalprotectionclauseoftheconstitution.theCourtshavealsoheldthattheconstitutionofthecommitteesandtheAdvisoryBoarddidnotcontravenethestatutoryprovisionsinthatbehalfprescribedbythelegislature,thiswasheldinthecaseofBhikusaYamasaKshatriyavsSangammarAkolaBidiKamgarUnion,AIR1963SC306.Further,asdecidedinthecaseC.B.Boarding&Lodging,Re(1970)IILLJ403:AIR1970:SC2042:38FIRI.,itaddedtotheabovementionedcasethat,...northereasonthattwodifferentproceduresareprovidedforcollectinginformation..

    (C)Notificationfixingdifferentratesofminimumwagesfordifferentlocalitiesisnotdiscriminatory.

    wherethefixationofratesofwagesandtheirrevisionweremanifestlyprecededbyadetailedsurveyandenquiryandtherateswerebroughtintoforceafterafullconsiderationoftherepresentationswhichweremadebyasectionoftheemployersconcerned,itwouldbedifficultinthecircumstancestoholdthatnotificationwhichfixeddifferentratesofminimumwagesfordifferentlocalitieswasnotbasedonintelligentdifferentiahavingarationalnexuswiththeobjectoftheAct,andtherebyviolatedarticle14.whentheGovernmentissuednotificationimprovingupontheexistingminimumwagesasrevisedminimumwagesdisregardingthecontraryreportofthecommitteeappointedunderSection51(a)suchnotificationwasbadunderthelawandwastobemadeinoperative..

    AspointedoutbyoneoftheIndiasUnionLabourandEmploymentMinisterShri

  • 03/05/2015 PrintArticle:TheConstitutionalValidityofTheMinimumWagesAct,1948

    http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/print.php?art_id=1770 3/4

    MallikarjunaKharage,Thevariationofminimumwagesbetweenthestatesisduetodifferencesinsocioeconomicandagroclimaticconditions,pricesofessentialcommodities,payingcapacity,productivityandlocalconditionsinfluencingthewagerate.TheregionaldisparityinminimumwagesisalsoattributedtothefactthatboththeCentralandtheStateGovernmentsaretheappropriateGovernmentstofix,reviseandenforceminimumwagesinScheduledemploymentsintheirrespectivejurisdictionsundertheAct.

    ReferringthecaseofN.M.WadiaCharitableHospitalvsStateofMaharashtra,1993,itwasdecidedbytheCourtthatFixingdifferentminimumwagesfordifferentlocalitiesispermittedundertheconstitutionandunderlabourlaws,hencethequestionthatanyprovisiooftheMinimumWagesActisinanywayagainsttheprovisioofconstitutioniswrong.

    TheconstitutionofIndiaacceptstheresponsibilityoftheStatetocreateaneconomicorder,inwhicheverycitizenfindsemploymentandreceivesafairwage.Thismadeitnecessarytoquantifyorlaydownclearcriteriatoidentifyfairwage.Therefore,aCentralAdvisoryCouncil,initsfirstsessioninNovember1948,appointedatripartiteCommitteeonFairWages.Thecommitteeconsistedofrepresentativesofemployers,employees,andtheGovernment.Theirtaskwastoenquireintoandreportonthesubjectoffairwagestothelabour.

    (D)SanctityofTheMinimumWageAct

    SupremeCourtinthreeseparaterulings,hasheldthatnonpaymentofminimumwagesistantamounttoforcedlabourprohibitedunderArticle23oftheConstitution.TheSupremeCourtholdsthatforcedlabourmayariseinseveralways,includingcompulsionarisingfromhungerandpoverty,wantanddestitution.InSanjitRoyVs.StateofRajasthan(1983),theSupremeCourtheldthattheExemptionActinsofarasitexcludedtheapplicabilityoftheMinimumWagesAct1948totheworkmenemployedinfaminereliefworkisclearlyviolativeofArticle23.ThusevenpublicworksostensiblyinitiatedbythegovernmentforthesolepurposeofprovidingemploymentaresubjecttotheMinimumWageAct.

    DrawingontheSupremeCourtrulings,AndhraHighCourtsetasidetheGovernmentofIndia(GoI)notificationmandatingthatprevailingstateminimumwagebepaid.ThishasbeenunderscoredinthelegalopinionprovidedbyAdditionalSolicitorGeneral,Ms.IndiraJaising,totheCentralEmploymentGuaranteeCouncil(CEGC)WorkingGrouponWageswhereshemadeitclearthatusingSection6(1)toallowapaymentoflessthanminimumwageinMGNREGAworkswillamounttoforcedlabour.15eminentjuristsandlawyersofIndiatoohaveaskedGovernmentofIndiatoimmediatelyrevokeitsunconstitutionalnotificationandensurethatminimumwagesarepaidtoallworkersinIndia.

    TheActandthejudgmentsareinfavourofequalityprovidedunderArticle14oftheConstitutionandajudgementinthecasenamely,EngineeringWorkersUnion/vs/UnionofIndia(1994)I.LLJSup.942Bom.,pronouncesthejudgmentthat,TheprovisionunderSection3(2)(A),thatminimumrateofwagesinscheduledemploymentfixedorrevised,shallnotapplytotheemployeesduringtheperiodofadjudication,violatedequalityclauseofArticle14andhencethatsectionisvoid.

    IntheviewoftheDirectivePrinciplesofStatePolicyascontainedintheArticle43oftheIndianConstitution,itisbeyonddoubtthatsecuringoflivingwagestolabourerswhichensuresnotonlybarephysicalsubsistencebutalsothemaintenanceofhealthanddecency,itis

  • 03/05/2015 PrintArticle:TheConstitutionalValidityofTheMinimumWagesAct,1948

    http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/print.php?art_id=1770 4/4

    conducivetothegeneralinterestofthepublic.

    TheMinimumwagesActwaspassedtofulfilltheaspirationascontainedinthefollowingresolution:Ifthelabourersaretobesecuredtheenjoymentofminimumwagesandtheyaretobeprotectedagainstexploitationbytheiremployers,itisabsolutelynecessarythatrestraintsshouldbeimposeduponthefreedomofcontractandsuchrestrictionscannotbesaidtobeunreasonable.Ontheotherhand,thecannotbeheardtocomplainiftheyarecompelledtopayanyminimumwagestotheirlabourerseventhoughthelabourers,onaccountoftheirpovertyandhelplessness,arewillingtoworkevenatlesserwages.

    InthecaseofPETITIONER:BIJAYCOTTONMILLSLTD./Vs./

    RESPONDENT:THESTATEOFAJMER.DATEOFJUDGMENT:14/October/1954,TheConstitutionalvalidityofthisActwasattackedonthegroundthatitviolatestheguaranteeoffreedomoftradeorbusinessetc.,envisagedbyArticle19(1)(g)oftheIndianConstitution,(ConstitutionofIndia,Article.19(1)(g),19(6)MinimumWagesAct(XIof1948),sections.3,4and5Appropriate

    GovernmentFixingminimumrateofwagesWhetheroffendsfundamentalrightsguaranteedunderArt.19(1)(g).)

    ,itwasheldthat,therestrictionsimposeduponthefreedomofcontractbythefixationofminimumratesofwagesthoughtheyinterferetosomeextentwiththefreedomoftradeorbusinessguaranteedunderArt.19(1)(g)oftheConstitutionarenotunreasonableandbeingimposedintheinterestofgeneralpublicandwithaviewtocarryoutoneoftheDirectivePrinciplesofStatePolicyasembodiedinArt.43oftheConstitutionareprotectedbythetermsofel.(6)ofArt.19.ItcanthusbesaidthattheprovisionsoftheActareboundtoaffectharshlyandevenoppressivelyaparticularclassofemployers,whoforpurelyeconomicreasonsareunabletopaytheminimumrateofwagesfixedbytheauthorities,buthaveabsolutelydishonestintentionofexploitingtheirworkers.

    Thefactthatemployermightfinditdifficulttocarryonbusinessonsettledprinciplecannotbeasufficientreasonforstrikingdownthelawitselfasunreasonable.Thepovertyoflabourersisalsoafactortobetakenintoconsiderationwhiledeterminingthequestionwhetheraparticularprovisionisintheinterestofthegeneralpublic.


Agricultural Wages Act, 1948. II 12 · CH. 47. Agricultural Wages 11 & 12 GFo.6. Act, 1948. Enforcement of wages and holidays orders. entitled to be allowed a holiday by him, nevertheless

Minimum Wages Act, 1948 - clc.gov.in · Minimum Wages Act, 1948 SECTION CONTENT 1 Short title, extent and application ... in a factory where there is carried on any scheduled employment

bombaychamber.combombaychamber.com/admin/uploaded/Proposed_amendments_-_Mi… · Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Ministry of Labour and Employment proposes to amend the Minimum Wages

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH ABSTRACT THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 … · 2014. 4. 12. · Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (Act XI of 1948), is hereby published for information of all the

The minimum wages act, 1948 (2)

minimum wages act 1948

Report On The Working Of The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 For

Ilaw Minimum Wages Act 1948

Constitutional Validity of Minimum Wages Act

Wages Structure in India Under the Minimum Wages Act 1948

Report On The Working Of The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 …labourbureau.nic.in/Report_MinWages_2009.pdf · Annexure II Machinery for Enforcement of Minimum Wages Act, ... should be a

THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948 · The Factories Act, 1948 Page 3 of Page 80 CHAPTER - VIII Annual leave with wages 78. Application of Chapter 79. Annual leave with wages 80. Wages during

THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 - MahaOnline · PDF fileSec. 2 The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 ... respect of an industrial dispute relating to the ... a Tribunal or National Tribunal under

bourgeoisinspirations.files.wordpress.com€¦ · 10/11/2010  · A comparative statement giving the Minimum Wages for agricultural workers fixed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948

Minimum wages act 1948

Factories Act 1948 Annual Leave With Wages Special

The Minimum Wages Act - Gupta Consultantsguptaconsultants.com/.../2015/10/5-The_Minimum_Wages_Act_1948.pdf9(3) The Punjab Minimum Wages Rules, 1950 THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 INTRODUCTION

THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 - Uttarakhand · THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 1[ACT NO. 11 OF 1948] An Act to provide for fixing minimum rates of wages in certain employment Whereas it

Report On The Working Of The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 For The

Minimum Wages Act, 1948

THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS S · 3 THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 ACT NO. 11 OF 19481 [15th March, 1948.] An Act to provide for fixing minimum rates of wages

Minimum wages act, 1948 ( s e l v a).ppt2

Automatically generated PDF from existing images. INSTRUCTOR.pdf · TA Rules, wages, policies, principles of wage fixation, concept of minimum wages, Minimum wages Act. 1948, Payment

MINIMUM WAGES ACT 1948 - wblc.gov.in WAGES ACT 1948.pdf · Wages Act, 1936 (4 of 1936), minimum wages shall be fixed in accordance therewith. 4. Minimum rate of wages (1) Any minimum

Bare Act- The Minimum Wages Act , 1948

THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT ‘1948 - University of Delhicommerce.du.ac.in/web/uploads/e - resources 2020 1st/M.Com Sem … · the minimum wages . the minimum wages act 1948, was to secure

LEGAL FRAMEWORK - International Enterprise Singapore/media/IE Singapore/Files/Events... · Presentation Made For: ... • Minimum Wages Act, 1948 • Payment of Wages Act, 1936

labour.tripura.gov.inlabour.tripura.gov.in/sites/default/files/point_91.pdf ·  · 2017-07-19The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 ... Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 Payment of Wages Act, 1936

1 Factories Act, 1948 - Sauda.Comsauda.com/companion/pdf/cs/Executive/Sample Chapter/New Syllabus... · Annual Leave with wages! ... [Chapter # 1] Factories Act, 1948 (7.7 Answer:

Minimum Wages Act 1948 - ilo.org

THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS S · THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 ACT NO. 11 OF 19481 [15th March, 1948.] An Act to provide for fixing minimum rates of wages in

 ·  · 2011-09-26Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act Minimum Wages Act, 1948/ Payment of Wages ACt, 1936, Trade Unions Act, 1926. Industrial Disputes Act, ... Meaning, Scope

pmpeduapms.orgpmpeduapms.org/site_img/semister/DLP.pdfThe Minimum Wages Act, 1948 & Principles of Labour Economics Object of the Act, constitutional validity of the Act, Definition,

The Minimum Wages Act - Haryana Labourhrylabour.gov.in/staticdocs/labourActpdfdocs/The_Minimum_Wages_… · 9(3) The Punjab Minimum Wages Rules, 1950 THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 INTRODUCTION

Fixation of Wages Under Minimum Wages Act 1948