Wage Code Bill Receives Green Light From Rajya Sabha; Focus On Minimum Wages And Timely Payments

The Rajya Sabha on Friday (2 August) passed Code on Wages Bill, 2019 presented by Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, which is likely to benefit over 50 crore workers across the nation, reports The Economic Times.

Having been passed by both the houses of parliament, the legislation will become an Act once President Ram Nath Kovind gives his assent to it. The bill has subsumed a host of central labour laws, thus paving the way for much simpler structuring of laws to be abided by businesses across India.

This marks the first of four labour codes proposed by the Labour Ministry in order to reform labour laws. Under the provisions of the new bill, the Union Government will now be fixing the minimum wage on the basis of geography and skills.

The Code of Wages bill ensures minimum wages along with the provisions for timely payment of wages for all workers, including those unorganised sector workers who were outside the ambit of minimum wages earlier. This includes agricultural workers, painters and security guards, etc.