Centre plans national law for minimum wage

The minister also said that social security and safe working conditions which will help in ease of doing business is the primary focus of the government in terms of implementing the labour law reforms.

“Labour reforms are high on our agenda and emphasis is on the organisation of the untouched and marginalised labour sections,” said Mr Dattatreya while addressing the CII National Council Meeting.

Talking of the draft labour reforms, the minister said that the government has introduced a number of schemes with the aim to bring the unorganised labour section under one uniform umbrella.

This is in alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India, Skill India and Digital India, said the minister. “The ministry is replacing the inspectors as facilitators who would supply information and advice to employers and workers concerning the most effective means of complying with provisions of this code in addition to other functions,” said Mr Dattatreya.

He said that to actualise the vision of inclusive growth, the need of the hour is a stable, consultative partnership between labour, industry and the civil society which will take forward the development of the nation.

While answering to queries from the industry leaders, Mr Dattatreya said that though labour law is a concurrent subject, the states are on the same page as they all feel the need for a conducive atmosphere for development.

He expressed hope that CII will initiate a process of engaging labour unions, industry and the political parties to have a win-win situation in terms of the labour laws reforms.

He also agreed with the industry that the workforce in the hospitality, healthcare and retail sectors need to have a minimum protection under the new labour laws.

With regard to the wage Act, he said, “Minimum wage has to be fixed by the state government but we want a National Minimum Wage Act. We want enactment of a Law. It will be statutory and every state has to implement that minimum wage.”

The Union labour minister said that the “formula” on the wages was ready and it would come out “shortly”. “Now, we are making a formula and we are ready to go within one or two months and we will declare what will be the minimum wage at the national level.”