Bill to universalise minimum wages introduced in Lok Sabha

The Code of Wages, 2017 bill seeks to combine Payment of Wages Act 1936, Minimum Wages Act 1948, Payment of Bonus Act 1965 and Equal Remuneration Act 1976.

Photo representational: File

New Delhi: The government on Thursday introduced in the Lok Sabha a bill to universalise minimum wages in the country. The Code of Wages, 2017 bill seeks to combine Payment of Wages Act 1936, Minimum Wages Act 1948, Payment of Bonus Act 1965 and Equal Remuneration Act 1976. N.K. Premachandran, of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), opposed the introduction of the bill and questioned why it was brought in a hurry. "You are bringing the bill in a hurried manner. It means you want to avoid opposition," Premchandran said. The bill was not originally listed for introduction on Thursday and the last minute addition was done to the list of business by adding a supplementary list. Premchandran complained that there was not enough time to go through the bill, but Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said he was just introducing the bill and members will have time before it is taken up for discussion. Dattatreya said the bill was in the interest of the workers. "This is the first time we are universalising minimum wages. Under this unorganised workers can also avail minimum wages," he said. "It is for simplification, rationalisation and making it less cumbersome. It is in favour of the workers," he said.