After a recent enforcement drive found that Delhi government contractors were not paying workers the increased minimum wages as notified on November 1, the Labour Department on Monday issued an advisory to all heads of department to make sure the staff are paid minimum wages.
In the advisory issued by the office of the Secretary-cum-Labour Commissioner, with approval of Labour Minister Gopal Rai, the Department said a special enforcement drive was carried out from December 10-21.
“During the drive, statements of workers/employees taken reveals that outsourced workers employed by contractors in Govt. establishments/Govt. hospitals are not being notified rates of minimum wages which are effective from 01.11.2018 [sic],” the advisory read.
Citing the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, and the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the department said it was the statutory duty of the principal employer to ensure that the outsourced workers are paid minimum wages.
Asking all heads of department to ensure the payment of minimum wages, the advisory stated: “Any violation to these provisions attracts prosecution/challans under the relevant provisions of labour laws both against the Principal Employer as well as the Contractor [sic].”
According to the Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Act, 2017, the fine for failure to pay minimum wages is ₹50,000 and/or a prison term of up to three years. Earlier, the fine was ₹500.
Starting from November 1, 2018, the daily minimum wages are ₹538 per day or ₹14,000 per month for unskilled workers; ₹592 per day or ₹15,400 per month for semi-skilled workers; and ₹692 per day or ₹16,962 per month for skilled workers.