·UNIT-I

.,
HISTORICAL DEVELO~MEN
STRUCTURE T OF LABO UR LA~
1.1 . Int rod uct ion .
1.2. History
1.2.1. An cie nt Period
1.2.2. Medleviµ Period
_. t• ,; '
1.2.3. M~dern Period .
~ ct ri n e.'or Lalesez _Fai
re
1.4. Le gar Te nn s
1.5. Qu est ion s
1.1. INTRODUCTION
The concept of ind ust ria l jur
isp rud enc e in ou r cou ntr y
ind epe nd enc e. Until ind epe developed only ~te r
nd enc e the Government aim
con dit ion s_qf_l_a ~~ ur Bl}d it ed at amelioration or ·the
cou ld har dly be sal d to be
_wo rki ng .cl~ ssi A~er lndepe a deal· in social jus tl~ to
pd!!~Ce Qn the. bas is of ou
. wa y of . the .directloi:f ·..o.f. r constitutional aim and by
i~t ~rn ati on ~. :Labour organi
number-·o( me~~ures ror the zation we have developed
·benefit.of Labours. , ·
1.2. HISTORY
In the early day s .fuen were
living in gro~ps. As me n live
aro se conflict bet we en var iou d in grou.p s, there
s gro up s on several matters.
use d to des tro y the opposite ln conflict stronger group
groups. Th is divided the hu ma
on e tQ rul e an d oth er to be nit y into groups, tha t is
rµled. This led to gro ~th _of
the world. 'After v_a rlo us dev slavery in several pa rts of
elopme~ts iti·the relationship
ma ste r an d ser van t relations cre ate d new ins titu tio n of
hip in the society. This rel
ser va nt can be..traced in thr ationship of nia ste r and
ee ·periods, tha t is, in the anc
per iod an,d the mo de m p¢riod ien t period, the. medieval
. ·
1.2.1. Ancient P~rlod ··
In. tho se day s the people e.re .
-cl~.ssified in two classes nam
no t. Haves bec am e. ma ste rs ely Haves an d Haves
!;U1d Re,ve no ts became Servan ,
the ir lab ou r· ·a s commodity ts. Here the servant~ sold
for -~hei liyelihood and ma
developing the ir property. 'I'h 1
e relatiohship between the ma
ste rs purchase~ the m for
. bas ed on agreenier,.t betwe ste r and servant wa s no t
·e n the two. 1~. is pu~ely by sta
. _servants totally dep end .on tus of the ma ste r. Here the
the ma ste rs. ·ln thi s perlod '
·the relationship of ma ste r and the re was no law to govern
servant. .
1.2.2.-~edleval,P~riod .
In .tho se . pe;fod the institu
tion of feus\~lisf!l of old age
me rca nta lis tn and freedom s wa s replaced by
en teri.;rl ses. Thi:, perio'd ,-wit
han dic raf ts, the growth of nes sed the decline of home
urb anization people moved
city. They have partic;:ipa from vill ages _to · town and
tcd in the ind ustria l econom
y. ln tho se days the
 ·. 2 • ~ .,,,,,,
master and se1-vant came into being 0 ,- the ha .
reI a ti.ons1-1 ip b e twc:cm
• _ • • . • • sis of
agreement, express or 1mphed under which one promises to pay and the other '
promises to sen,_e, The dispute between _the people was resolved by way of Contract
Law or Mercantile law. On matters which were not governed by the terms of the
contract, the common law was applied. The common law of m aster servant tl'eated
II
I the labour as commodity which could be purchased and used by the naster to
meet his ends and purposes. The law of contract and common law of master and

f/
. !
j I.
servant was. a product of individualistic society in the medieval period.
1.2.3. Modern Period .
This was the period of technological advancement. During the periods
modernized industries was introduced. Here Industries were no longer domestic
i j industries they are mass scale production centers. So huge employment ,was
: 1
I
created in these industries. People also moved towards the developmenti.ll activity.
Ii In this period as a part of the Treaty of Verasailies in 1919, the International,
Ij- Labour organization was formed, emphasizing the fact that ·universal and lastlng
I. peace could not be achieved unless the working class people o( all nations were

!{ l'
united and their exploitation was prevented. These factors had tremendous impact
on individual contracts and the coinmon law and contract law ·or
master and
servant. The post war labour legislation of various nations changed the relationship
of master and servant. These legislation conferred rights of freedom of association,
collective bargaining and tol1ective contracts. Both master and servants treated as
two equal human ele.rhents in industry. It-is the status which was conferred by the
labour legislation on servant, made him to rise to the status of employee. So bqth
master and servant, has .go.t their individual rights by way 9f enactment of various
Labour Laws. Therefote the Master and Servant relationship by way of new rights
granted b Labour laws turns the relation into Employer and employee.
1.3. CTRINE OF LAISSEZ FAIRE
.. ·- ---Th~direc"t 'meaning .of the word 'laissez faire' is let the thil?,gS alone. Laissez
Fair~· -riieartt; ·.a::·~-t ate of · economy where the iridividual is ~free to _carry on his
0~ ~,P~~qn,- .ti,-~d~/~r business and to condti~t hirns~lf withthe '·~Inirnum -or__state
-contr<>lt~.He-wi11-•ha.ve ·fu11 freedom of cartying·.c,m·ru:i-y-<:>ccup~tiort,trade or business.
ilussez . Faire helps the · growth of free . and__ priv,a te entefptfse_{; without the
intervention of state-wha tsoever:. , . . .
It wa s advocated in the doctrine that free play of selfintere§t was cot'l.dttcive to
max-i mum individual benefit. It was thought on th 6se days free private enterp~ises
·11 look after the needs. of th e society by s upplying consumable goods at lower
1

=~s ts. The p t eferen~es oi the consumers are 'ubderstood bytheir dem ru:1d, ~rices of
the goods are fixe d by demand supply m echanism .Demand supply price are inter
related to each other. They guide and con trol the whole econ omic a ctivity in the
freedom of ente rprise. The laissez faire doctrine h as always been principal~y an_d
essentially ~ italis_ig)in ou t look and l: _b our .has b een invaria bly exploited 111 th is
system ,\; ·
 .. ·-·· ·-r
_ tt has been found in practice that the Laissez faire has its o ~ . First thi~ '-
do~trine was i:\troduced in Unite_d States of America and later it moved to all other
co\tntries in the world. Tht>: first pos1t10!)-· or this doctrine was arised in Soviet 1

Russia and moved to other countr es. en it has been considererl that it is not safe
\ foi'etthe economic sys!_em func~on!ut~matically e.ccor~ing conditions of demrulcl

___
. and supply. Therefore it was decided to provide effective system of economy to
,,. deliver goods and to provide welfare l~gislation for the working people.
:1 1.4. LEGAL TERMS
\ Laissez faire: "Let the things alone. · .
i1.5. TEST QUESTION,;$

l 1) How the master and servant relationship changed in~ employer and
employee relation?
2) Define the doctrine of Laissez faire?
3) Write an essay on developme·nt of Labour La-.y?

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 4

UNIT- 11

.FACTORIES ACT 1948

STRUCTURE
2.1. Introd uction
2.2.- · Definition
2.3. •Autho rities
2.4. Healt h Meas ures / ,
2.5. Safet y Meas ures· ·.·'
2.6. Welfare Meas ures
2.7. Working Hour s
2.8. Work ing of Youn g Perso n
2.9. Leave with Wage
2.10. Speci al Provision
· 2.11.• .Penal ties
2.12. Case Laws· I ,:·•

.2.,1~. '. Test Ques tions . . . .. .

·.. · ·. r . · .. • ; ·
2.1. INTRODUCTION
or.ker.s. W~te.,gene r~y·
The· provi sions for llie safety , healt h and welfare of Uie.w
found to _inadeq uate and unsat isfact ory and even wher e),t
was ·P,rov.i ded,. _ U.clid .not
;_h1 y!~f.. ~f tiie)a rge ~d .. ,. .. ,
exten d to a large mass of work ers ·n ot covere~ by _t~e -Act·
aulin g. 0( .thff.t:L~tory:la.w,.
·g rowin g ~dus trial ac~vi ties in the COllntry a radic al oveth
0

·: :.. ,: ':•.:·:·-_::; i:,:·>-;"'.;~:\ :;_ -:"·.\ ·:: - .

was called 'ror. -.Henc e the Facto ries Act 1948 was pa'.s!!ied. ·... : . :; .. ·: ·.<: :_·. .. ·.·. ,";. .~:,:, .·.. ·
2.2. DEFIN ITION .
· ··· -, ···· ·
wo~~ER . ·
any agency.
> ·work er is defin ed as any perso n employed direct ly or through.
inclu ding a cQntr actor whet her for wage or not in . any
manu factu ring proce ss;-or in · .
cle~ inS _the mach inery or prem 4les or in other '!clnd of wo.
r~incid ental to or cease d .
can be~ work er withi n
to conn ected with the manu f'a.ctu ring proce ss. A watch man .
~
if he• can be broug ht
the mean ing of the terms as defin ed in, Factories Act. only.
·with in the word s ~plo yed in ~ .oth~r kind of work ~~>
so ever incid ental to or
.· ·
conn ected with the mo/1,ufacturing proce s!;
Se.s_ilon 2(1) need. not
· A perso n in order to be a work er within the mean ing of
on a11y mant ifactu rmg
neces sarily receiv e wage_s. There fore a perso n worlcin~
e wage s: The perso ns
proce ss in a factor y is a work er e~~!l thoug h he doesn 't receiv
are not covered by the
empl oyed ·for only scllirtg the 'manu factu red articl es
en to occup y room at,
expre ssion 'employed ' in the factory even thoug h they happ
e. ·
the facto ry.for the sake of conve nienc
.. ~
'
,
. . was .··
(1.,1/S ~hta s ~tde s_V s Ram Lakhan Singh A.I.R.1 976 s.c · 849 - A perso n
empl oyed on a paper factor y for super visin g~d c~~~~ng
qualit y and wejg h~en t ·o f
. ---- ---- ,....--__,_ ===-

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 5
nufacture of
the basic raw materials for the ma
waste papers and rags which are essities to··
cts of the factory and in case of nec
paper. He used to work in the precin
tory worker.
work ~ e the factory. He was a fac by the
937 -There were sevf.ral petition
✓M.M.R Kha n Vs Uni on of lndl a AIR 109 0 SC
d
can tee ns run in the diff ere nt Rai lway Eetablishments. The relief claime
worl<ers in way
pet itions was tha t the wo rke rs concerned should be treated as rail
in ·all le to the
yee s and sho uld be ext end ed all service conditio~s which are avallab
emplo into three
reme court classified the canteen
railway employees. In this case sup of the . .
which was created under Section 46
types as follows Statutory canteen one run in
ognized canteen. These canteens are
Factories Act.1948. Non statutory rec ch
hm ent wh ich ma y or ma y not governed by the Factories Act whi
the establis with the
ever these canteens are established
I .
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em plo y less tha n 250 em plo yee s. How
cedure.
i railway board as per prescribed pro
prior approval and recognition of the .
ry Non reco gni zed can tee ns wh ich are not approved by management
Non Statuto rs and'
it was hel d the fll'st two typ. e__ canteen workers are d~fined as worke
Finally
_come under \Yorkers definition.
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last type of canteen workers does not
I
· .
F~CTOR't ~-n-.. Ty
.\ ' me 'any premises wh ere ~ or mC>
ans
I
Section m) defines the word I factory with the
acturing process is being carried on
I

workers are \voricing in which a manuf actu ring ·...

of pow er or wh ere twe nty or mo re .;,.orkers are wor@ng Where a manuf
aid e@ r
aid of power, but does not in cl ud
process is being carried on without ffie .. •.
t or eating plac_e.
\
~ running sh e~ r@ re sta ur an d that
l{andlwala 1996 II L.L.J.26. It was hel
I ,

State of Bombay Vs Ardeshlr ~ormµsJI Bhl\ · ·.., _ ·

the pro ces s ofm anu fac turi ng of salt fs carried on is a factory. _
lands in which be~~4~
(2)L.L.J 493 it ~as held that merely
Seshan Vs Inspector of Factories 1957 ported ·to
the ma n~ r of_a factory has taken
out Ucense under the Act and had pur
hal f yearly
t arid the rules by submission of
cor.iform to the_requirements or the"'Ac registers
the hours of work or maintenance of
refurns~'or-by putting up a notice of to be
uld not brin g the esta blishm ent within the scop~ of this Act; It · has
wo hin the
upon ev ~ that the factory falls wit
eistabli:tied from circums~c-es artd suc h place
that the workmen employed in
definition under this .sub Seet!or,i and •
truned in SeQtion 2(1)
cam e within the definition·con
MANUFACTURING PROCESS Z(_,k) .
i~ _the natttr~ of
A pre ~is es woul~ be a fa~~~?'/
if the work carried on th~rc i_s
Act, ma nuf actu ring
ing to Sec2(K) of the Factories
ma nuf actu ring process. Accord
pro ces s me ans any process for
~ing, ~ g
, orn arn ent i~, fini s~n g, pac
(i) mf¼kin~, alterln_g, _ rep ~g
aking up .,::'.demo-lish ing or oth er wise trea ting or
wa.shlng cleaning, bre- ..- ---: , transport,
tice with a vie\v for its u se, sale
· r
-
ada ptin g any article o(s ub sla - - -
deli very or disposal or ·
.o.th,er s,ub stan ce or
¥ii pum pin g oil) water,' sewage or any
or tran smitting power or
gfi rae ner ati ng ,transforming I

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.,. ! _ _ _ ,,.,_ .. .. _. ~ ~
✓-----._
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~ -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ,. .- .~ .

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l-'.,,. '
~v1
,✓
co mp os ing typ es for pri nti
ng by let ter pre ss, ph oto gra
yr oc es s or bo ok bin din g ph y oth er similar
or
-M '". co ns tru cti ng , reconstructin
g, rep air ing sh ips or ve sse
~ pre ser vin g or sto rin g an ls ;or
y arti~~e in cold sto rag e.
·
•
As the de fin itio n is wide ·
,·. ~~?~S sta ge s in the ma nu fac en ou gh it will inc lud e all activities wh ich de al wi th
tur ing pro ce ss for giving fin
In or de r to co ns tit ute ma nu ishing sh ap e to ~he goods.
fac tur ing pro ce ss the re mu
V.P.Gopal Rao Vs Assistant st be t,ransforr:nation. ·
public Prosecutor. A.I.R 1970 ·
lea ve s we re su bje cte d to S.C 66 su n cu re tob acc
'th e ··pr oc ess of mo ist en ing o
co mp an y's pre mi ses wi th , str ipp ing an d pa ck ing in
a view to the ir us e an th~
ma nu fac tur ing cig are tte s. d tra ns po rt to co mp an y's
More th an tw en ty pe rso ns for
ma nu fac tur ing pro ce ss wa were working. It wa s he ld
s ca rri ed on in the premi tha t
we re wo rke rs an d the pre Res an d the pe rso ns emplo
mi ses a fa~tory wi thi n the yed
2.3. AUTHORITIES ( ~. me an ing o'f thi s Act,
.-ta) . .
S~ on 8, ?f'the Ac t ;£. ys
do wn th at the sta te Go ve
· pe rso ns wh o po sse ss rnm en t ma y-a pp oin t su ch
the pre scr ibe d qualificati
9<)vemment ma y ap po int on as ins pe cto rs. · Th e
a· ch ief ins pe cto r an d ap sta te .
inspectors,- joi nt ins pe cto p~ lnt · i:i.s ma ny_Jt~ditlonal
rs an d De pu ty Chief Ins ·ch ief
Se_£tion 8(1), Ev ery Di str ict pe cto rs·-'·a sj s': nec"essary.
ma gis tra te sh all be an ins Un de r ··
Di~t[ict Ma gis tra te a'h s as pe cto r for-tbie district.- ,W.he
ins pe cto r un de r su b Se cti ri .
ap d no t aju dic ial ac t. on (4) his ac t is executive
ac i
L
r
Powers of lns pe ctq r
Th e in_spe cto r a~ c? mp an
·

ied by. his ·as sis tan ts may"'

us ed or wh ich he ha s rea ..en ter ·an y pla ce wh ich is
so n to believe is us ed "as
pre mi ses , pl an t an d ma ch a fac tor y: He ma y ex am ine
ine ry an d ma y _require the the
an y oth er do cu me nt rel ati pro du cti on of an y reg ist er
ng to the factory. He ma or
y als o tak e sta tem en ts of
pe rso n wh ich he ma y co
ns ide r ne ee ssa ry for ca rry any j

j
Bu t 'no pe rso n sh all
to inc rim ina te him sel f.
be
co mp ell ed to an sw er an y
ing ou t the pu rpo ses of thi
qu est ion _o f give evide~ce t!.n
s ·Ad . j
!
~- ding .
~
1,
An ins pe cto r ha s als o . ·
the power' 1:o req uir e me
pe rso n' wo rki ng in the fac dic ai' ex am ina tio n'·of 'Youn 1
tor y ·an d als o to tak e ~~ p1 g'
i. int en de d to be us ed in ~. of an y su bs tan ce us ed
a fac tor y for the pu rpo , er ·
inj uri ou s to the ~ th of se "Qf- _fin din g oit t the su bs
the wo rke rs. tan ce is

~t~~e;?eta
i l e d pro vis ion s in reg
he alt h, saf ety an d we lfa ard to va rio us ma tte rs rel
re of the wo rke rs. Section ati ng to
pro vis on en su rin g the he 11 to 20 .o f the Act de.a l
alt h of the worker$ in the w~th the
ca rri ed on in the fac tor ies co nd iti on s un de r wh ich
. Th ese pro vis ion s are su work is
'-l ~a nl in es s: (Se cti on mm ari ze d as follows
11)
l) Ev ery fac tor y sh all be cle ,
an ed every da y
2) Ev ery fac tor y sh all be wa
sh ed ev ery week

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 3) All inside walls and partitions are painted evert,Period of five years.
4) If they are painted with washable paint it shall be painted every three
years.
5) further all doors and windows frames and other wpoden or metallic frame
work and shatters shall be carried out at least once in every period of (Ille-
. '
·.- /.! Y~· .
~:Disposal of Waste: (Section 12) - Effective arrangements shall be mad~ in every ·
factory for the treatment of wastes apd effiuent~ d.\;le to the manufacturing proce.s s
carrfod on therein so as to render the innocuous ·and for their disposal. The State
government may make rules prescribing the arrangements to be made in this
regard. · It may also require that such arrangements to be made are approved by
sucli authority as may be prescribed.
4nuiation and Temperature: (Section 13) - Effe~tiv~ and -suitable provision shall
_. 6l ma~e in every factory for securing ·and .;111a)n,t~~irtg in every work roo·~ .
) :{af:Adeq~~te ventilation:by-:the circuiatfon ~i f~~;~h' air, iili:d'. .. .
I • t :. i ~ ;, • :: t , • 'I ,,: - \. : 4}- ~• :./ • ' l,• .' ' •', • , • • '., •

~)-~$~f'1'1emperature:._as well.secure 'to w_ork~(s. ~~asonable conditions of ~e.r~in

comfort and prevent injury to healtl) , ·; . ·
~ and fume: (Section 14) - Where dust o; fume or impurity of such a nature
as is likely to injurious or offensive to the worker is given off as a result of the
manufacturing process being carried on in a factory,. effective measures shall be
taken in the factory for preven.,t_ic:m _ofjnha,lation or accurrmla,tion of dust and fumes
in work rooms.
~ c i a l Humidification (Section 15) in respect of all · factories ln which the
h'U~idity
.. .
of the air is artificially
~ ......
increased, th·e state government may make rules
rfrescn'bihg.1ta.ndards of humidificatiop. , . . ,.
~rcro~ding -(Secticm--t6): 'There· shall hot .be ov~-
' •
;tro.w.dfng'in any room. of,the
• • , · · ', : · , ., ~ ➔ ·· ·:·.· ~~· ~· :· · • •, • • ' :

factofy so as to ~urious t~ the health of·the work'ert-:s-en1ployed therein. Thete

shall be at •teasl~ubie meters of space for every worke_r. ·£~emption for this
, proviJi.9n may be obtained from the inspector of factory .
. ~fffforig: ·(section-17): ln every part of the factory where the workers are working
or pas~i?g there_.~hall be ·p~ovided .and tn~11taine?_suffici~nt and suitable lightiQg,
1
naturalot artificial of both. :: . . ' I . .
- . :.Dnnking water: (Section--18) In every /factory, . effective arrangements shall be
rrfr{d·e·t<l provide and maintain at suitablejoints co1wenter1tly situ,3.te for all workers
empf~ye'ci therein a sufficient supply of w_h'ote _some dd11kh1g wat~r. In every factory
. wherein more than· ~ otkers arc ordinarily employed, provisions shall be made
'. for t o ·ng drinking water.
~i. •;: • ,~,. .. ••J~~ rl- , I •

4 ,· ,, · /.~atn1~ -~~d ur~nals: (Section 19) - hJ, ,-e,v.ery . factory separate enclos<';d
f!~~X a c·~~[111n oda tion of ·1atrines and urinals , of 1i re~cr1bed ·t ypes fot fnale and !~male
j-~> ~- w~rkd·s shall be provided foL Such· accommodatioh shall be, conveniently situated
t ·..., arid accessible for workers at all tim~s. , . '·
'!~~~•;_; ; , :' I • . : • ' •
 8
~itt oon s: (Sectio n 20) _ In every factor y, they shall be
p1:ovided a_ sumc:l~
numb er of spitto ons in conve nient places and they shall be ma..m
tained in a clean
and hygien ic condit ion.
2.5. SAFETY ( J_ ( .,.,(.,,.,)
The safe~ -provi~y{ns are absolu te and ohliga to9 in their chara
cter and the
I occup ier of every factory is bound to follow them. They are conta
~

to 4,Q,•
- -
ined in Sect ion~

•-~ n g of machi nery: (Sectio n 21) - In every factor y, every

dange rous part of
any machi nery shall be secure ly fenced by safegu ards of substa
ntial constr uction
which shall be consta ntly maint ained and kept in positio n
while the parts of
machi nery they are in motio n or in use.
St~te of Gylecet Vs Jethalal, Ghelabhal Patel (1964) 1 LLJ 389
- It was held the mere
fa:!_ that someo ne else had remov ed the safegu ard, witho ut the
knowl edge, conse nt
or conniv ance ~f the manag er canno t provid e any defenc e. ·
~ o r k on or near machi nery in motion : (Sectio n 22)- where
in any factor y it
becom es neces sary to exam.l,ile any part of machi nery while
the machi nery is in
ino~on . Such exam i~a~ .shall be made only by specia lly
traine d adult male
worke r wearin g tight fittipg ~ which shall be suppli ed by the
occup ier. ,
~plo yme nt of young person on dange rous machines:
.
y_oung perso n shall work on· ...... (Sectio n-23) No
any machi ne to which this Sectio n applie s
(i) he has been fully instru cted as to dange rs arisin g
in conne ction with
macqi ne, and pr:cau tions to be_o.bserved; and / ·
(ii) he has receiv ed suffici ent trainin g to wotk on the. machi
ne, or is under
adequ ate supery ision by a person who · has a thorou gh knowl
edge and
experi ence of machi ne . .,. · · / ·
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I ~ g gear and devices for cuttin g off power : (Section 24)
- in every factory,
suitab le . strikin g gear or other efficient mecha nical applia nce ,shall
be provid ed and
:I ~
. . -
maint ained and used to move drivin g belt to and from fast and
loose pulley s which
;I form part of transm ission mach inery. Dr1~ing belts when not
in use shall not be
'!I allowed to rest or ride upon the _shaftin g m~chi ne. suitab le devise
s for c:uttlng off
power in emergencies from running machi ne shall be provided
',! and maintained in
ev_e ~ork room . ·. ··
·11 ~ e l f ·Acting machines (Sectiort.25) No traversing pa.rl ~f a
I
i
self acting machirte in
any facto1y and no· material carrie d there on shall be allowed to
ru n on its outwa rd
or inward traver se within a distan ce of 18 inches from any fixed
structu re which is
not part of the m achine. ·· . ·
I
I ~ g of m a chine1y (Sectio n 26) - I_f any one sells or hires either directly or as
' I
an agen t, any m achine whic11 does-riot comply witn-p rov1s1ons of
Sec 26 he shall be
punish able with impris onn1ertt u p to three month s or with fine
up to rupees five
hundr ed or with both,' This Section impos es liability on a
seller or hirer of
u se in a factory ,-
m achine ry or his ~who sells or lets on hire any machi ne1y driven
by po ~for
11

II
··, - , .!ILJZW!fA !I

I
I

1q
II
 -< 9

Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton openers:

(Section 27) - No women or child shall be employed in any part of a factory for
pressing cotton in which a cotton opener is at work. If the feed end and of cotton
opener 'is in a separated from the delivery end by a partition extending t<;> the roof
women and children may be employed on the side of the partition where the feed
end is situated;
~ s t s and lifts (Section 28) - In every factory every hoi'st and lift shall be of good
mechanical construction, sound material and adequate strength and shall be
sufficiently protected by endast1;;.s Jilted with gates, It should be properly
maintained and shall thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in
~ six months. '
e 9. Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting tackles (Section 29) - in any factory,
it cranes and other lifting machinery shall be of good condition, They shall be
thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every twelve months.
lt ~~volving Machinery: (Section 30) - In ·every room in a factory in which the
n . process_of grinding is.carried, they shall be permanently kept near each =ne a
e notice 'ndicatlng the maximum speed of every _grindstone speed of the shaf and
ind.le and the diameter ofthe pulley upon such shaft or spindle,
0
~~~s~re. .~lant(Section 31) - if in any factory i;i.ny part of the plant or machinery
in a manufacturing process is operated at ·a pressure above atmospheric pressure,
effective measure shall be taken to ensure that the safe working pressure ·or such
h
- part is not exceeded.
~ o r s , stairs, and means of. access: (Section 3?.l - in every factory all floors,
:r
steps stairs, shall be of sound construction and properly maintained. llurther they
d
·-shall be kept free from obstructions and substances likely to cause p~rson to slip
hand r~s shall be provided wherever necessary. •'"
'-,J..V.ttr~umps, opening in floors, etc (Section 33) 111 every factory pits, sumps,
i fixed vessels, tanks, openings in "the gr"ourid ·or 1ri the"f16or shall .be securely covered
or securely-fenced. . · ·· · . • . :
~ ~ssi~e Weights: (SectiM 3~_"'. No person shall be e~ployed in any factory to
lift, carry or move any load' so hea-.y a.~ to likely to cause him injury. .
~ otection of eyes: (Section 35) :Xn ~very factory, screens or suitable goggles shall
be-provided !or the protection of person~ employed on or in immeqiate vicinity of
mechanical or other processes which involve any danger: of injury .to the workers - -
- - - - I - -" - - ' ~- - - " - - " -- --
eye sight. . ,
~ utions against ,dangerous furnes: (Section 36) in ~y factory no person
sh,ctlt' enter ·or be per~ itted to enter any _chamber, ~ • pipe or pther confined
space in which dangerous fu mes are likely to _be present to such an extents to
i~volve risk of persons being ovcrco,(tle thei·eby \mless it is provided wlth ~
;; of ~ uate size or other effective rri~ans. .. . ,
t2 ·. _\ q .i(' Precautions regarding the, use of p_orla,blc electric light: (Section .-36.::~). No
·t. ,.
ft:, portabie electric light or any other electric appliahce of voltage exceeding twenty
;.:..-,: . 1,-., \ I ,------:;-

t"f .,:•"!M7'' 1

I\.
 10
four volts sh al l be
pe rm itt ed for us e
in si de an y ch am
sp ac e in th e fa ct or be r ta nk or ot he r
•'t' - ~ y.
.
S. Pr ec au tio ns ag • t e,"l'llosive or in fl am m ab le
w he re any fa ct or y· ai ns ,..,. du st O as et c. : (S
ection ..
an y m an uf ac tu ri ng
likely to e?f,plode pr oc es s pr od uc es du st , ~
90 ig ni tio ns al l pr ac tic ab le m ea su gas, fu m e w hi eh
su ch e~'Plosion. re s sh al l be ta ke n
to pr ev en t any;
'-1,9 :\P re ca ut io n in ca
se of fire: (Section
su ch m ea ns of es ca 38) - Ev er y fa ct or y
pe in ca se of fire, as sh al l be pr ov id ed w
~ w e r to re qu m ay be pr es cr ib ed ith
ir e sp ec ifi ca tio n of .
if it ap pe ar s to th e defective pa rt s or
in sp ec to r th at an y te st s of st ab !l ity (S
bu ild in ec tio n- 39 )
be da ng er ou s to hu g, m ac hi ne ry or pl an
t in a fact_
bo th ol th e fa ct or
m an life or sa fe ty ,
y to fu rn is h dr aw
he may as k th e oc cu pi er or
th e m an
ory m ay
ag er or
d e te ~ th e sa fe in g! , sp ec ifi ca tio ns
ty , to ca rr y ou t •the an d ot he r pa rt ic ul
~ a f , t y of bu te st s in the sp ec ifi ed ar s l
ild in g an d m ac hi ne m an ne r.
· bu ild in g or m ic hi 9; : (S ec tio n 40 )-
ne ry or pl an t in if an y bu ild in g _or
\
a fa ct or y is · in su ch pa rt ·of
r' da ng er ou s to hu m
m an ag er in w rit in g
an life or safety, th
e in sp ec to r m ay se
· a co nd itl on th at
lt la
.lI
I
t
an d re qu iri ng th em
~ t y offic
sp ec ify in g th e m ea
to be ca rr ie d ou t be
su re s w hi ch in hi s
fore a specified d~ te
rv e on th e oc cu pi er
op in io n shall be ad
.
or th e
opted
ers: (Section 40-B
or di na ril y em pl oy ed ) w he re in ·on e .th
in th e fa ct or y th e oc ou sa nd or m or e w
I
officers. cu pi er 1ha11 em pl oy or ke rs ar e
su ch nu m be r o, sa
fe ty
;I • Power to m ak e ru
go ve rn m en t m ay m
le s to su pp le m en t th
e above pr ov is io ns

l
ak e ru le re qu ir in g (Section-41) Th e st
devices an d m ea su th e provision in an y at e
re s for se cu ri ng th e fa ct or y of su ch fu rt
de em ne ce ss ar y. sa fe ty of pe rs on s em he r
pl oy ed th er ei n a.s it
2. 6. W EL FA RE ,. m ay
·· .,, ',
- In th e w or ds of
Ro~al Commission,.
w as hi ng facilities , th e pr ov is io n of
for al f em pl oy ee s su ita bl e facilities lik
deficient. Th e w or is d~sirable an d he re e· ·
ke rs w ho live in cr m an y fa ct or ie s ar e
~ sh in g an d b_a th in owded ar ea s ha ve
g facilities. We re co in ad
pro<cesses, th e prov m m en d th at for w or eq ua te facilities for
~ · io n for w as hi ng pl ke rs en ga ge d in di
Se ct io n 40 to 50 ace an_d w at er sh ou rty
ld be m ad e obligatory.
j.
Th e va rio us pr o ·si
~ h i n g Faci
ea t w ith su ch like facilities
on s in th is re ga rd ar
e as follows.
for th e welfare of th -
e w or ke rs .
I
I lities: (Section 42)
facilities for_w as hi • in every factory
ng for m al e an d .fe a.dequS:te an d su ita
' m ai nt ai ne d for th e male w or ke rs sh al l bl e
us e of w or ke rs th er be provided an d
~ t i e s f9r ei n.
st or in g · an d drying
ke ep in g cl ot hs of w , cl ot hing (Section 43 )
or ki ng people ·is to be su it~ bl e pla~e. t~r.
~ i t i e s fo provided .
r si tti ng : (Section 44 · · ,
for si tti ng sh al l be ) - In ever y fa ctory,
provided an d m ai nt . su ita ble -atra.ngen; ~,nts
to w or k in a s ta ndin ained for all wor ke rs
g position. ,vh o ar e ob liged
 /~k~l
• l
, 11 IG"
5"1,t)"<~~~l"U-,
~ s t Aid appliance: (Section 45) - ln every factory there shalt be first aid
, ~e~1or cub boards with prescribed contents. there· shall be at least one
, ..such
box for every one hundred fifty workerB: In Every factory wherein more
, , ~

· than five hun~ed workers are ordinarily employed, there shall be provided
and· maintained" an ambulance room containing the prescribed equipment
' under the supervision o'riiiedical and nursing staff. ~Sow~•
~anteens: (Section 46) - Any specified factory where in more than two
hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed a canteen or canteens
shall be provided and maintained by the occupier for the use of the workers. '
JV"Shelters rest room and lunch rooms (Section W-
in every factory wherein "" ~
more than one fiundredllfty workers are ordinarily employed there shall be 1~j e:A
provision for shelter_s, rest room and suitable lunch room. However any $ ~ ,
canteen maintained in accordance with the ,provisions of sec 46 shall be ~
·regarded as part of this requirement there is no need to keep separate Lunch ~ ( ~
room. ycon,
'
j
~reches:· (Section 48)- In every factory ·wherein more than thirty women So~
! workers are ordinarily employed they shall be provided and maintained a I
.,
I •

su~table _room for use of children under the age of s~ years of such women.~ ~ 1
~ Welfare officers: (Section 49) - in every factory wherein 500 or more workers
are ordinarily employed the occupier shall employ in the factory such
number of welfare officer as may be prescribed.
~ower to make rules: (Section 50) The state government may make 1,"Ules
. exempting subject to compliance with such alternative arrangements of the
· weifare of workers as m'!Y be prescribed.
2.7. WpRKING HOURS OF ADULTS .
The-rules to the regul;tti~n·of hours of work of adult w~rkers in a factory are as
follows: 1 .,

~ ] 4 y hour&: (Section 51) ·- No adult wdrker·shall be required or allowed to work

in a factory for more than forty eight hou~s -in any week. ·
~ekly Holiday (Section 52) - Every adult worker in a. factory shall be allowed a
holiday during a week as such rto adult lwo~ker shall be allowed'to work in afactory
on the first day of th1 iweek 'irhtcb 1s S;uncl~ -, ' '. .
~pensatoty holidays: (Section 53) - where a worker is deprived of any of the
weekly•holidays under Section 52 he ·shall be allowed a compehsatory holidays of,
1

equal number to the holidays so lost.

.. __., 4.):rciily hourS: •(?ection 54) - subj~~-t .to th~ ?-?OVc rule no adult worker stiall, be ·
:~ . ~q~ir~d or allowed to work in a factory for'more than nine ,hours in any day. But in
Y. _·_ order to facilitate the change of shift, this-limit :may be exceeded. 'rhis can, however
· t~ .:· ,Qe d,on,e with the previou s approval of the Chief inspector of fa~tories.
-, e;:\ t Jr1e;; als for rest: (Seclion 55) - 1;'h e periods of work of adult \vorkers in a factory
· •.,.~e~c~.•~~y shall pe so fixed that no period shall exceed five hours' and that no worker
' 171 , ;/ '
~

fWlotk for more than five hours before he had an interval for rest of at l~ast half
i:.·f. • - ------ - -·· -
 I I
I
I

-·
an ho ur . B ut th e to
ta l nu m be ; of · ho
12

ur s w or ke d w ith
ex ce ed si x. ou t an in te rv al
should
~ e a d ~ver: (S
ec tio n. 56) - The
th at in cl us iv e of th pe ri od s of w or ke r,
is in te rv al s fo in a fa ct or y sh al l
r th e re st th ey sh be El l!Bn8ed
an d a ha lf ho ur s al l no t sp re ad ov
in an y da y. er rn or e th an te n
~ g h t Sh if t
(S ec tio n 57) - w he
e~ te nd s be yo nd m re a w or ke r in a
id ni gh t hi s w ee kl fa ct or y w or ks on
y or co m pe ns at or a sh if t w hi ch
m ea n~ pe ri od of y ho lid ay fo r a w ho
tw en ty fo ur co ns ec le da y sh al l
~ o h ib it io n of ut iv e ho ur s be gi nn
ov er la pp in g sh if ts in g, w he n hi s sh if
(S ec tio n 58 ) - W or ts en ds •
fa ct or y by m ea ns k sh al l no t be ca
of sy st em of sh if rr ie d on in ··
w or ke rs is en ga ge ts so ar ra ng ed th
d in w or k of th e sa at m or e th an on
m e ki nd at th e sa e re la y of
~ r tim e w ag m e tim e. ·
es (S ec tio n 59 ) - W
ni ne ho ur s in an he re ~ w or ke r w or
y da y or m or e th ks in a fa ct or y fo r
m or e th an
.. . . . re sp ec t of ov er tim
e w or k be en tit le d
an fo rty -e ig ht ho ur s
in .an y w ee k, he
sh al l in
wages. to w ag es at th e ra
te of tw ic e hi s or di
na ry ra te of
Re st ric tio n of D ou
bl e Em pl oy m en t:
re qu ir ed or al lo w ed (S ec tio n 60 ) - No
to w or k in an y fa ct ad ul t w or ke r sh al
_w o r~ in an y ot or y on an y da y on l be
he r fa ct or y, sa ve in w hi ch he ha s al re
"1-1-:'Notice of pe ri su ch ci rc um st an ce s ad y be en
od s of w or k fo r ad as m ay be pr es cr ib
w or k for ad ul t w or ul t w or ke rs : (S ec tlo n ed .
ke rs sh al l be di sp 61 ) A .n ot ic e or -p
It sh al l sh ow cl ea la ye d an d co rr e.c.t er io ds of
rly for ev er y da y th ly m ai nt ai ne d in ev
re ~ e d to w or k. e 1J.;riods du ri ng er y fa ct or y.
w hl ch ad ul t w or ke
.._JZ: Re gi st er of ad ul rs m ay be
t w or ke rs : (S ec tio
m ai nt ai n a re gi st er n 62) - Th e m an
of ad ul t w or ke rs sh ag er ,o f ev er y fa ct
ow in g or y sh al l
(a) th e na m e of ea
ch ad ul t w or ke r in
(b) th e na tu re of th e fa ct or y;
hi s w or k;
{c) th e gr ou p, if an
y, in w hi ch he is in
{d) su ch ot he r pa cl ud ed ;
rt ic ul ar s as m ay be
Th e po w er to m ak pr es cr ib ed .
e ex em pt in g ru le
G ov er nm en t, St at s an d or de rs w as
e O ov em m en t m ay in th e ha nd s of St
sh al l no t ap pl y to m ak e ru le s th at th at e
ce rta in de fin ite pe e pr ov is io ns of Se
rs on . (S c 51 to 66
2.a. EM PL oY M FN
T aE vo•
K yo un g pe rs on m ea •N o ee 1? s0 Ns u
ec 64 -6 5)
~~~ ~-PtJ:' ~ t-
,
w ho ha s co m pl et ns a pe rs on w ho is
ei th er a ch ild or an
,i
ed hi s fiftee11th ye ad ol es ce nt pe rs on
ye ar . ar of ag e bu t ha s
· no t co m pl et ed hi
s ei gh te en
A do le sc en t m ay b
su ch w or ke r is in e ,al lo we d to w or k in a fa ct
th e cu st od y of th or y if • a ce rti fic at
e of fit ne ss for
re fe re nc e to su ch
certific ate m us t be
e m an ag er ·or
w ea rie d by th e ad ol
th e fa ct or y A to ke
n giving a
~ c al e of fit es ce nt at w or k
ne ss (Section 69 )
ce rti fy in g su1-gco n - Ce rti fic at e gr an
af te r, ex am in in g bi te,d to a yo un g pe
fa ct or y. m and as ce rta in in g hi s fit rs on by a
ne ss for w or k in a

b -- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -- -
- - - - ·-·-·

'
b-
 13
tion 71-72) No
no tic e of pe rio d of work of children: (Sec and
hours and ry ror more than lour
•
permitted to wo rk Tn an y fa cto
chila 'shall Se employed or
g night shifts.
halt"bours in any day; and durin(SectJon 73).! the manager of every factory In which
~ ef at er of child W
orkers e name
1 ten n~ a re gi ste r of ch ild workers showing th
l m ai
-c:hild~ri 'are employed shal nature of work, the number of his token.
.ofeach worker in the
factory,
hich .
t,t. ANNUAL CEAVE W
ITH ;WAGE " . ' ith wages to
;hall
~o r th e gr an t of ce rtain period of leave w
. ~ ti on 7,8 '."' 84 provid~
or more
n in worlanan, ·
ke d tor a pe rio d of two hundred rorty days
s ~r
y of ,- Every worker who ha ve wage as follows
rin g a ca le nd ar ye ar ell~ble for the lea g the
1n a factory du
tw en ty da ys of wo rk performed by him durin
r evezy
ha n If an adult, one day fo
11 in previous calendar year. tee n · da ys of work, performed by
him
day fo r ev ery fif
:e of If a young person ,one ~
~
.
lendar ye ar . year
during the previous ca . be ,ca m e~ Corward to a succeeding
be Neav e· th at' .m ay
I
·Total: number .of-daya-0 t .an d:l or ty ,days ·in case of young
person. ,
een in ca se ·.o f ad ul
shall r.ot•exceed thirty
.2.10•.SPEC.IAL f)ROVJS
ON ay extend the
of f th e ,F ac tor ies Ac t -th e State government m ocess
Under Section .8S..9 erein ~rumfacturing pr
I
pl~ ce wh
>ry. ons f,t this Ac t to an y.
operation of the provisi ·
be iscanied on than
um be r of-
- p
. er. eo .ns -em ployed therein (s less
-t ha t the .n where the
tall
. Not -with -standing
ty if. wo rk in g w ith ou t the aid of power, Even the
ten ,and not more th
an twen er bu t are working with
d by th e ,o wn
not employe
penons .working are t wi th such owner.the Act
will apply.
un de r ag re em en any
permiulon·or
te to iss ue no tif ica tio n applying the Act to
.the sta ry and the
Section 85 -authorizing nc e tq at th e place is .dee-med . facto
ns eq ue e
place which involves
the co
or ~e rs Js no t .d isc rim inatory so as to infring
ein .are deetned ,w authorizing
per.eona working -ther- n .no r do es th e p.rovlsio·n amount to
io of
te Article 14 of the co
nstitut
up o
. n th e .ru nd am ~n tal right of the owner
able restrictio n
i6 irnpoaltion .of unreason
his busines~. ,' ·
-the factory to carry ort ;k er s wh o· work {or the full pe
riod of
plie· s to ..wo the benefit of
Section 79 clearly ap d it -irt ay ap pear appropriate th.at
ou rs an e
n employment during .facto
ry :h
ex ten de d to pe rso ns who .do not work for .th
es ·11hould -be otification
n annual leave ·with :Wag en t. ·If Se cti on 79 made applicable by n'
tabljshm d
hours f1Xed f.or ;th_e es os r wo rk er s on ly wh o -Work for the lull perio
ld apply to ·th oyer for
r · urtder~ection :85,-itwou ,an d •66 (i ) of th e Fa ctories, Act by the empl
on -61,71
M ,prescnbed under Secti · ·
r of qualifying d ,ys;- -
1
,flot less·than the num be
i"" ~.
t .r~ ;t1 :.',PJ:NAtTIE$_
the Factories{ ict ,,de l:ll s .w ith pe nalty ;for contraveni
ng any
e ,9cc_upier or m~nager
~ ··.,.,..~ . · ':Section 92 _gf th ere,oU.hder -making th
is Act or rules maqe..
.,.~' ~/:~ rovisitins of th
:-,,;.:,-~
~._

-
 !II'

· \ ~ · ... t !'
14 ~'f:1i;.~, •._ ;::
f 4 w' ) rf. !' ,. :t
responsible. There is nothing unreasonable for the occupier and the manager or '' ·i(
factory being made responsible for the observance of the provisos of the Act anc1 ~
rules and providing that they sha.11 be guilty of an offence if there is contravention :r
any. of t).,.ose provisions. Only by such provisions it would be possible to effectively
enfor~e the provisiorts of the Act and the rules. Fqr the first time, in this Section 92
provides for the imposition of sentence imprisonment.
2.12. CASE LAWS .,w~W
1. Rohtas industries vs Ram Lakhan singh 1\IR 1978 SC 849. _
2. M.M.R.Khan Vs .Union of India AIR 1990 SC 9 3 0 r ~ ~ t ~ ~ 4
3. State of Bombay Vs Ardeshir Hormuji Bhiwandiwafial956 II L.L.J.26. ,
4. V.P.Gopala Rao Vs Assitant Public Prosector AIR 1970 SC 68.
5. State of Gujarat Vs Jethlal Ghelabai Pate~964 .1 l L.W 389.
2.13. TEST QUESTIONS
1) Define 'Factory' under Factories Act, 1948. ·
2) Define the term 'Worker' under Factories Act 1948.
3) Summarise the provisions of the Factories Act relating to the Health
Safety and Welfare of the workmen. '

i'
1l

"I-
1
r1:
I1f

ill
1,,,
~
~

1•1

Ii ~
'!II
l1
i1

11

\
 15
. UNIT-Ill

• _h; --
. .:.·-,: -.~~~
. .... . .., t
.,,! ., . ,,,.,,_ ..... THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT 1948
:·-r. ~~ ' _,. . . ~ - ·-

I"~-;·.:~TRUCTURE
·;:~-~if~}rf-Jr3 rl ,1Introduction -~l. ,

7'~~ .:- ,-~•M-~!21object ·

-:tn'j:n., ,,, ·!: •. 3'.2.1: Constitutional Validity
3.3. Salien of the Act
. res . .
t J:'eatu
i j ~ • •
. ;. '

· 3.4. ~efinitjon
;

3.5. Fixatio.n o( Minimum Wages .

.• I
. .

3.6.: Machinery for Fixation Minimu~_\Yages

3;7, ,Miscellaneous
c·,.: ,· ::s.s:casel.aws
!r · i •. : ~· · · · -~ · •
3.9.. Test Questions .
~.,.~~.• ::. ··,:•:·· · . /'
; :, ...
.1. IM!~QpycJION . . ..
3_ _ .. _., . .. . ... .
th, Act.
:_Legi~latipn to pi:omote the .~elfare .of ~e workers is the Minimum Wages
tion adopte d
This act which was enacted--in 1948 has its -roots in the recommenda 0

[J hY. :~~-Irit~~~tional Conference i'928. ,The object of the:Act is _to pro.vide for
·1,,a~our
to us to be
'fixing -~inimutri rates·of wages in·certain employment and this seems
.,de~l y ~~e d against expl9itation of the ignorant, 'less organi
zed· ~d ~
tion of India
· · ·privileged members of the society by the capitalists. Under the .Constitu
the state -is now expressly directed to endeavor to iiecu~e. all worke
rs.n~t_, only to
bare
physical subsistence but a living wage· ~d c>!'\vor~ ensuing a conditions.
decent -standard life' and enjoyment of ·leisure. The Directiv~ Principles of
of run·
State·_-'pollcy ~ereli,'lays 'down · (Art- 43}"' the ,foundatio~' for appropriate• social •
I • : ·
due to it in •

. structure 1n-which'tH~ t4bou'r.will find its place of.dignity legitim?.tely

·, 1. • , ; •. •• •• • ~. .
, , : ., • • ·,

lieu- of itfcontribution' to' the progress national economic prosperity.

The :Act has of
to ·make it _more
.,:sine~ its ~rtabtniend;eeti"ruriended on':sev1eral occ~sions appare~tiys~ppo rt from the
::etfecti~e-in achievihg itsi object which has,I, sirtce secured ~ore finn
• '• -'~•. ;
• : ; • •,t ')
. •I ••
• • • Ii. • I, 'I . •- ' ' , • , '
• ·, ~• - •,

,-Constitution. ~;, .•, !i : , .._,,. .. 1 , ; , ..

•· . ,r. ;. ~- . . .... :~- L l • • • •

:.~ ·, ·: ~
fajr_ \~ge
Th.e Fair wage .Committee, form~lat~d .the concepts of li"'.in~g \Vage,
1
,
hed by the
_·. (Uld ~nim ~m ,w~ge. The .. J<;air . wage I committee's report ., publis
Goyernment of Indian as broadly approved. . . ,: I '/ , ' , I, , ' , " •
' 1 • I • '
;.- f --,·, • ;,•i ., ·;, J I f ••• t ., • ( •• •

all the
~ 11 ~hi':!~s·-~,tlg<;;Jt-is,?- _wag~ .whicn:.~ill. en~ble-.him to provide his family with will
ez,nlf-1~rJ~.-~ i~gs,.,y.rliich are needeq for their ~and -physical
well being and
,i ge his dutie:,i as
_ citizen
a_ · :• .
;,l' .' ·e;,,1;>e.~9.~'llg4 ,to ena~I~ h\111 to _qu~ify to disc~
lf and -his
d' -t: r~J.ru;:i 'r,he living 0.wage should enable the male earner to provide for himse
,r.:1 ~~~~fo.mi!Y. :~~tmerel~:the b:3-1°c essenti_als pffo~c( c~thing~~cJ ~hc~tc
~; ):~ ~ com~ 111cl ud1~g edu.~as1.on for _the ch1ldren; prote~.
r, bu~ a n~easure of
t~on against 111. h~alth,
of 1hsurance agamst the
;. ·--.::..:~~,.,,._requtrements ;of e_ssential soc1al ,needs atid a measure
J.:P :·, pottl;lnt misfortuneitincluding Q-1.e old age: . . ., . .
 • r___,., _ sf~J, t...
V'p;,:+~i, :.u,f ., ~vo-rI,,--. -
1,,'L-w v-

Fal r Wa ge: Fai r wage is a mea n be~

-ec n the living wag e and the nwu
sub sJst eace wa,ce: Thi s is a "--a&e whi a-\n
ch wou ld be suff icie nt to cov er the
nee ds of a worb..--cr and his fam ily. ban
tha t is a rate whi ch h~ ! got to be
wor ker irre.spccth--c of the cae acit y
Sta tuto ry lllA lmu m wag e: Thi s is
of the ind ustr y to pay.
the wage, how eve r, is the min imu
-
paid tQ

pre.s aib cd by the stat ue and it m whi ch

may be hig her tha t the bare aub
min imU ll\ \\-age pro ,idi ng for som aiatence
e mea sur e of edu cati o11 , med ical
and amenities- req uire men
The Fai r wag e Com mit tee' s Report
has been bro adly app rov ed by the Sup
cou rt in Exp ress News Pap ers (p) Ltd rem
~s Uni on of Ind ia AIR 195 8 SC 578
.
3.2. OB JEc f
The Act pro vide s £or r~t ion of min
imu m wag es by the Cen tral Gov ern
emp loy men t deta iled in the sch edu men t ''"·
le of the Act and carr ied on 6y or
aut hor ity of the Cen tral Gov ernm ent, und er the
by railway adm inis trat ion or in a
min e, oil field or maj or por t or any rela tion to a
corp orat ion esta blis hed by a Cen tral
ilie sta te Gov ern men t for oth er ~pl Act . and
oym ent s cov ered by the sch edu le of
~ MillS Co. Ltd. vs. Sta~e of the Act• .
Ajm er 1954 {L.L.J. 686) if \\-S.S laid
obj ect of thts Act as to pre ven t exp dow n tha t the
loit atio n or the wor ker s and for this
aim s at fixa tion of min imu m wage'i-- pur pos e it
-which ffie emp loye r has to pay . The
inte nde d to app ly the Act to tho se legi slat ure
ind udd es or JocaJities in whi ch by
cau ses suc h as uno rga niu d Lab r reas on of
our or abs ~nc e of mac- hinery for
wag es. the wag e paid to wor ker s wer regu lati on of ·
e in the ligh t of the gen eral level or
sub sist enc e level inad equ ate. wag es and
3.2.1. Con stitu tlon at Vali dity of the
Act
In Bijo y Cotton'_Mlll Vs Union of India AIR
1955 S.C 33 dea ling with the que
ava ilab ility of la~ ur for wor k at stio n of
less er Wf!S !:8 tha n the min imu m
Sup rem e Cou rt obs erve d ~s follows wag e, the
"It can ~ t y be disp uted the sec
livi ng wag es to wor ker s whi ch ens unn g of
ure not only b""are phy sica l sub sist enc
mai nte nan ce of hea lth and dec enc e but also
y is con du~ ve to the gen eral inte rest
Thi s is one or the- Dir ecti ve Prin cipl of pub lic.
es of Sta te Poli cy emb odie d in Art
Con stit utio n. If the labo ure rs are to 43 or our
be sec ure d in the eajo yme nt of mi~
and they are to be sec ure d in the mu m wages
enjo yme nt or min imu m wag es and
pro tect ed aga inst exp loit atio n by are to be
thei r emp loye rs. It is abs olut ely nec
rest rict ion s sho uld be imp ose d upo essa ry tha t
n thei r free dom of con trac t and suc
can not in sen se be ·sai d to be unre h rest rict ions
ason ab1 ~~ On the oth er han d the
can not be hea rd to com plai n if they emp loye rs
are com pell ed to pay min imu n, wag
Lab our ers eve n tho ugh the Laboure es to thei r
_rs on acc oun t of thei r pov erty and
are will ing lo wor k on less er wag es. help less nes ~
On the que stio n of con stitu tion al vali
held in this cas e tha t the rest rict ions dity it was
imp ose d by the Min imu m Wages Act,
they inte rfer e to som e exte nt with thou gh
the free dom of trad e or bus ines s
und er Art J 9( 1) (g) of oi'.ir Con stitu g\ta rant eed
tion , are reas ona ble and bein g, imp
inte rest of gen eral pub lic, are pro tect ose d in the
ed by Hi~ term s of clau se (6) of Art 19.

· r1W@
 17

-~-· ·._ · The Supreme Court in Crown Alumlnum Works Ltd Vs Workers A.I.R. 1958 S.C. 30
,. if -~~!.li~~- observ~d. that no Jndustry~ as a ~ t to exist unfess it is able to eay its
~-~~···. :r' · wotkmen at ·least a bare minimum wage. If an employer cannot maintain his .
'· · · · · enterprise without cutting down . the wages of his employees below a bare :·
•. : J :. aubsiste~c e or minimum' W~e§, tie would haVe 1\6 nght to conduct
his enterprise
·-•: on'such terms.
In Madhya Pradesh Mineral Industry Association Vs. Reglonal Labour Commls~loner.
ients (Central) and others j960 2 L.L.J 254 the Supreme Court has held that the provisions of ·
the Minimum Wages Act' are intended to achieve the object of doing social justice to
reme ' workmen employed in the scheduled employments by prescribin g minimum rates of ·
wages for them and so, in construing the said provisions the court should adopt
what is sometimes described as a beneficent rule of constructi ons. If the relevant
1t 1\,-. . words are capable of two constructions, preference may be given to that
r the construction which helps to sustain the validity of the impugned notjfication; ·but it .
l to a is ·obvious that an occasion for showing preference for one constructi on rather than
, and .the_other can legitimately arise only when two constructi ons are reasonable or .
t. ·· possible not other wise. ·
lt the :· ~ -(Engineers) Private ttd. Vs. Their Workmen' A.I.R. f969. S.C 182, th_e Supreme
)se it Court observes as follows: "The •Act ·contemplates·that minimum wage rates must
ature ensure for hirii not only"his.SU bsistence and that or his family I but also preserve his
on of efficiency as a workb.man. It should therefore, for the preservation of the workers
)n of and so mu~t provide for some measure of edub~dd~al, medical requirements and
1 and . amenities. ~ · ·~ ~ · - - ·· · · ·
. , '
. In Unlchoyt and others Vs. State of Kerala 1961 (1) L.L..J'. 631· _it" was held that the Act
contem~ l~that min7inum wage ra:~es _s ~ld be ~ed in ~e scheduled industrl e~
with the ~bjec t of providing susteh~e· aridmaint enance of the worker a n ~
.his family apd preserving his' efficiency as a worker. In..fixing -the minimum·wages
as contempla ted' by ~e Act, the ~atdship
I
~aused
•
to. individual employers or other
• . . • ~ •
inability .to meet the burden has not relevance.
3.3. SALIENT·FEATU~ES OF THE ACT . . . -.
Some of the salient features of the Act are ·•
~ro~i d~.s f~r tlj:e rix_~ti~~ or·(a) mjnimum ~i~e rat~ of wag~s (b) mi~imurn,
that • , ~ate (9). a ~ar~te~c l time rate: and (d) overtime rate for different clii;ses of
ons . work for a~uits and children · ·: ,' . .. -
ers JV-rh e m~nirµu~ ~ate.. consists ·of a basic rate of wages 8J?.4 -~- _c ost of living
.. allowance. All-inclusive rates t · • .. .
i //l\ ·. ~Wage s ' shall b~ paici"i~ though, the Government c~ authorize that• 1
;.: ,~-"'~-A minimum wages be pald wholly or partly in kind. · ,~ • ., .,

tj~. ,·.
!;:f ~~ -~ t . lays , do':11· that the cost <?t. living s1':~_l.1?.~ ~'?.mputedthebybirector
~( ·:'::·-;-__ .-·,, : authority, m case of Centi:~l Governmen t ~ri'd~rJ;:tkings,
the · competent
Labour
e !;•.°:;:';.:~_:::'.· . t~.,-. Burcauist hecompct entauthor ity ··,., • ' - ·
li{i;;t{~. .:'.,' , . ' ·· . ·-·1·
 . : ..
· 18 ,
✓,-empowers the Oovenubent to fix the·hour o( work per d!L_Provide
~~ru:1~ p~yment of overtime w~s in regard to scheduled emp OYl!lert:
wh1ch nunimum rates of wages have been fixed,
in ·
~provid es for appointment of Inspectors, and authorities to hear and decide
<'
claims arising out payment ofwagesLless than the minimum ratea ofw~.
3.4. DEFINITION
EMPLOYER .
The word employer means any person who employs directly one or more
employees in any scheduled employment in respect of which minimum wages. has
been fixed; Employer includes except in sub-Section (3) of Section 2 any person
named under clause (f) of sub-Section (1) of Section 7 of the Factories Act 1948 as
manager or any person or authority appointed in any scheduled employment under
th! control of any Govemm~nt. The term includes any person In any scheduled
employment, under local authority appointed by such authority for eupervision and
control of employment, in any other case where there is carried on any scheduled
employment ½ respect of which minimum wages have been rixed, any person.
responsible to the o~er for supervision and control of the employees. A managing
agent is an employer, Privt!e engineering contractor engaged · cm · Oo❖emment
contract work is an employer, drivers of the lorries, which are hired out to him
drivers at agreed rates: ·
WAGES 1-J{?A . .·. , ·
Wages means all re neration capable of being expressed in terms of money
and inclu~Jl .house re allowance, but does not include the value of house
accoin"°modatiQll, or MY other amenity. excluded . by the ·Government.; It does not'
inclucle the contributior:i cy ;e em:Jc,yer to. the Provident Fund ·or any travelling
_c onc~ssion or any gratuity)a~b le. _ . • · · --··
SCHEDULE OF EMPLOYMENT . . .
Scheduled employment means an.employment spe~ified in the echeclule at the
..
,
end of this Act or process or any
branch of work forming
- part
of such employment.
.
i~ . . ... ·· --
MINIMUM WAGE · · . · ·
j, 1: The minimum wage fixed under the Minimum Wages Act, ~e Qnl! what .an
I;
employer has to pay! whether ·t he workmen have organized thernselvfes m~~ni~
anded fa!t·-wages or not, whether there has Heen an award o an In
- " · tn
"'.1
and oem :;,i:;,i.;....;.;__..._,._____ . ,, . - n t
Tribunal regarding the wages or not. The express1on mmu~um wages 1s o
defined in the Act, presumably because it would not be possible to lay down .a
Ir.~ ·r, • ·. . ~ wa es f: r industries throughout the eountty, on account of
~ IJ-" um orm m1mmu i d t d from one
·different and v in conditions prevailing from indus to n us ry an
{ ~ A, Jr- art of the country to another.
1.'1 c(i>~ p . W -kmen A I R 1975 s c. 2035, the difference between the
/,: \r In Sangam Press vs.•' or . · 1· .'d down . In case of fair wages, besides the
., . . cs and frur wages is a 1 .. . 'al
minimum wag · .. ·I
. . I . d try cum-region t 1c . company's capacity to bear the financ1 . h
pnnc1p e o in us - . B t mere hopeful observation made m t e
t · uc cons1 eralion. u
burden mus receive basis for awarding increased wages bec~use
dir~tors' annual report cannot be
 19

uc~~::~bservations are sometimes ma.de to i~Eire hope and confidence in

.:18har.e.ho1ders and they cannot be a substitute for actual audited figure;:-
- ~, .. f XATi N OF MINIMUM WAGES ~~ .....
_~ • , ; .ection.3 rovides for the fixation of minimum wages by the Government. Sub- .
,£ection-1• provides ·that the Government mav refrain from fixing the minimum ~
_.;. ·~ \ wage:~}~:•the w~rkmen _employed in ~espect of. a scheduled employmen~ is less than ,:0 ~ ~
~?r!I\...
~-- ~:;,. ·one_-.lliousand emEloyees. Sub-Section (2) provides that the Government may nx a
.' . : nfinimum time rat:?-a minimum piece rate, a guaranteed time ,rate and an ~vertime
'
rate. ,
~ e object or enacting the Act was to ameliorate the conditions of un~rganized
labour_and to t)rever~_t exploitation of labour by man~emezt: The bargaining power.
o~no!J_anized Labour was weak and there£ore there was necessity !or fixation of
minu;num wages. In the- case or those establishment in which industrial disputes
have been raised in respect of rates of wages and they are referred to a tribunal,· it
wa~. ~~\,\med that the employees had sufficie1't bargaining power and could agita~
thek _grievances regar~ing_~e fixation of wages, before a Tribunal ..In. the case.tQ
· tho~e ~pstrial .establi~hment which came.:urider ·category_. No.l referred to above
notification issued under,th~ ,A,ct should be.made inappl~cable. ··
ln fixing or -revising·.minimum rates under Sectioi{3(3)):tifferent minimum
rates of wages may be fixed for (I) different scheduled e.yments: (ii) . different

{
. ~
children'and apprentices: (iv) diUerent localities. ... ------
· . classes of work in the same scheduied employment: (Hi) .adults, adolescents"
......
ln tixing ~r revising minimum rates · u~der clause· (b) of sub-Section (3) of
r · Section 3, minimum ra~spages may be_Jixed by any ony>M!iore of the follo~
g
- \
·such other wag~ period as may be prescribed.
-
wage periods ·namel~y the hour (iit'1)y th~ day_(iur'by the month and ,Mby
·
.

ln,Cti.anciraBhavan Boardl a~ L~dQlpQ, Bangal_orevs. St1?_te of Mysore AJ.R.1~70_S.C.

e 240 lt _was aid ~own. that -fixing ·different rates of minimum wages for different
I
I

\1
industries or in differertt localiti~s:by-dividing the State in. to several zonea will be in
I
I
conforntlty 'with Section 3 ·of the' _sche~e of llieAct. For the purpose of preventing
I e,cp!§tation of labou~ the. Oov!'~menf is autho.rized to take steps to prescribe· ·
minimum rates o{ w~ges in the scheduled industries. The Act prescribes minimum
~i wage r~tes, ~hich a welfar~ stat~ ~s·sume~ every employer must pay before the
employees' labour.
I
\ 1~ ,Unlchoyl vs. State of Kerala A.I.R.;1~62 s.c. 12 it Wl:).S held that the, minimum
\ rates of wages are fixed with the obkct of providing sustenance and maintenance to
1

I the worker;.and his family ru-id preservingjiis efficiency as a worker. The minimum
\
I
~
prescribed is not'the economic or the industrial minimum, . ut contains several
I
I ~J components whic4 take the minimum wage near the level o fair wage 1d then the
effect of the s t a ~ n l ~pac'ty ~a ·ma no doubt to&:Je 'V ~ /
considered. · ~ J ,~~
ll~ v St-i
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - . . - -- -- -- - -~ -- ·-·-·· -•-, - ..l'""IIS""'tf"""~""'i;],..,,,
- --~,.,,.,,.,...,,.......,'41

•
 20
Se ct io r@ th e Ac t pro vid
es tha t the mi nim um rat es of
may co nsi st of a ba sic rat e of wa ge ~~ ed or_~~ <1
wa ges an d a s~ cia l aµ ow
wh ich is lin ke d wi th the co an ce at a rat e to be ad jus ted
st of liv ing ind ex ti!l mb ~r.
ma y co nsi st of a ba slc rat e ap pli cab le to the wo rke rs.
of wages wi th or wi tho ut co It
:ca :sh va lue of co nc ess st of living all ow an ce an d
' ' ion 111 res pe ct of the com the
-ra tes or an all inc lus ive rat mo dit ies sup pli ed at co nc
e all ow in for ess ion al
an d the ca sh v ue of the , the co st of living all o.w anc ~
con ces sio n if any. Th e spe
Se cti on ~( l)o r the _A ct i~ a cia l all ow anc e me s,t ion ed in
variabl;am ou nt for mi ng pa rt of the wa ges be ing li~ ed
wi th co st of liv ing ind ex ru,
mi ber .
In "ri xi~ the mi nim u~ wa
ges the following co nsi de rat
fac t tha t an em plo yer rriay ion s are irr ele va nt ;~ e
fin d it dif fic ult to car ry on
mi nim um wa ge s ~ fin his bu sin ess on the ba sis of
anc ial cap aci ty of the em plo
em plo yer ha vin g inc urr ed yer to p___w: 3)-1i{e fac t of tl;)e
los ses du rin g tfie pre vio us·
ye ar ~t
im po rtin g raw ma ter ial s. ~i
fe '" reg ion cu m ind ust ry pri nci plenp loy er• s· dif fic ult ies
Th e fin anc ial cap aci ty s. ·
of the em plo yer an d the
inc om par abl e ind ust rie s in wa ge sca le pre vai lin g
the reg ion are rel eva nt. Mi
irr esp ect ive of pro fits , the ftn nim um wages mu st be' pa id
e.n cia l con dit ion of_1he est ab
of wo rkm en on low er W?Se' lis hm en t or the ava il@ ilit y
s. Th e mi nim um wa ges is
ind ust ry""and app lie s to all ind epe nd ent of the kin d -of
ali ke big or sm all . __It set s the
no t be allowed ·1:0 sin k. low est lim its bel ow wh ich
1
t
:i CH INA RY FO R FIX AT ION
OF MINIMUM WAGES
Secti1>n 5 lay s do wn tha t inf
ixi ng the mi nim um wa ges or
rat es of wa ges un de r the Ac rev isin g the mi nim um
t the Go ver nm ent sha ll eit her
~ ~p oi nt an adv iso ry com mi ·
\ ~pu bli sh its pro po
tte e ~or fixing the mi nim um
sal in the Official Ga zet te
wa ges or
an d specify a da te no t les · ··
s tha n two mo nth s fro m the
the pro po sal s, will be con sid da te of not ific ati on on wh ich
ere d. On ce ffie tlo ver nm ent ·
wa ges it sha ll com e int o for fixed the mi nim um rates of
ce on the exp iry e e e mo
iss ue. Th e exe rci se of po we nIB !:f rom the da te of its
r to f"uc or rev ise the m1n1m
·. lim ite d on ly to em plo ym ent um wa ge in eub•Sc cti on (2)
s spe cif ied in the s<;:hedule. is
app rop ria te go ver nm ent ma Un der Sec tio n 27 of the Ac
y ad d an y em plo ym ent to the t·
In Chandra Bhawan Boarding sch edu le.
and Lodging Bangalore vs.
A.LR. 197 0. S .C.2 042 it wa State ofM yso re end atiothe
s hel d tha t the pow er• con r.
un de r Se cti on 5 is ne ith er fer red up on the Go ven ful ent
arb itra ry no r un gu ide d. Th
no t offend Ar tic le 14 of the ere for e stll>-Section (})' 'do es
Co nst itu tio n. Th e ma in obj
sw eat ed lab ou r as well as ect of the Act is to pre ven t
exp loi tat ion of un org ani zed
ba sis tha t it is the du ty of La bou r. It pro cee ds on the
the Sta te to see tha t at lea st
em plo yee s irre spe cti ve of the mi nim um wages are pai d to·
cap aci ty of the ind ust ry or
the rat es pre sc;·ibe d are . rea the un it to pay the saf ue. Ir'
\' ind ust ry or eve n ~ sm all un.
son able, bu t eve n if t,hey
wo uld adversely affect the ~
\t as the C8:S e i:n~v be ha s no
,1 ,. •
. In Bid i Lea ves and Tob acc ri_g ht to exi
~J .t.., (-t
' - -::-c ---:-~t.
..; { r, l .,
o Me rch ant s Ass oci atio n,... .:...·- ' - ·
.> I
---:: -=-
196 2 S.C . 486 it wa~ hel ·Go ndi a vs. Sta te of Bom bay A.I.
\ d -th at, the ~;w et' of ,the -G9
r'
' ' '
ver nm ent to pre scr ibe mi nim
.. um
R.

----·-1
,-~J
• • I. , '
 21

, t~s:' ~f wages or 'to revise them does n~t include power to var; other
terms of

1~ntract.
17~1. The-
~•..:·~ Jn .Y.A Mamarde vs. Authority under the Mln[mum Wages Act. A.LR. 1972 S.C
i~ 1951.
~; }ninimum ~ages of unskilled labourers of Nagpur Corpor.ation wa9 fixed
~/ e,y a,.,ubsequent notification in 1956 revised r~tes of minimum ~age were fixed but-
f- the ..
word
,, "unskilled labour" was not mentioned in the latter notifications. It was
"•
was
held that the second notification did not apply to all categories of Labour. It
confined to skilled Labour, .
L.L.J. 211 it
- ~ s t Hotel, Hyderabad Vs State of Andhra Pradesh end another 1975(1)
y,
was held that a committee appointed under Section 5 of the Act ls only an advisoe
~Lan d the Government is · not bound to""'accept any of its recommtendation.!:
of the
conseque,itly, procedural irregularity, if any could not vitiate the final report
committee or the'decision of the Government roong the minimu m wages.
FORMATION
. OF COMMITTEE St~
,,
S . '

W,hen Section 5 authorizes · the committee to ~dvise, the Government must

_supp_~ P~.$ ~~ 111fo~ation to the. comp,.i~tee ·to enable i~ to tender advise
; The
·eommittee can Qnly counsel and the Government not bciund is
by the advice. Under
Section 5, ,the ultima.t~ judge of.what shouid b~ the miniQl!,!,~t rates of wages
of the
It is •
employees is the Government. It is not the committee. It .is not even the Court.
Act
the Go~errunent, 'Y~ich is responsib!e -to the legislature, if it a~ministers th~
the
badly anti comes ·to conclusions, which are bpen to ~riticism as no~ being in
interest of the empfoyers.. or the employees:·'i'he ·court.1s·_~t1ti
concerned .to enquir e
whether a proper ~onsultation did -~e lace, . ~ . .
Jn B lksua :I.R. 1(163,
Yamasa 'Kshatrla Vs. Sa~gam~er Akola Taiuka Bldl Kamgar Union A
s.c. 806; 1962(2) L.L.J 736, it was heldtliat the Governm_ent has power to enhance the
1

rate or mes mentioned in the propo'sals publishe!:L The G~vernment has power ·to ~
rixclifl'erent minimum ';ages for diff~rent industries or in looallties, . " ..
Sectio;1 ··· 7 provides Co; :ilie a~po~ ~ent __of an_. advi_s?cy board by the
.·
and ,
Oove ~ent for the . purpose. o( .co-co~r~inating .th~ wqrk of committees
.
aclvi~ing the Government for flXing M~ revising the minimum rate or \\'.ages: '
. , , ., ·· . . . . . .
STRUCTURE OF.THE .COMMITTEE , ·
Secti.. Qn 8 provides for the appointmeni1or Central Adviso
. .
ry-Board eonsist
.
ln'g of
. . . I ..
~es
persons pomlnated pY the Governmeht representing the employers and employ
thlrd ..of its
who ar~ ~qual in number and .1hdcpende~t person not exceeding one
fixing·
total nurpber of mernbers. lt advise.s the 9enttal arid· State Go:vemme.nt in
and revi~ing the minimum rates or wages, co-ordinates the work of Adviso ry

. l3oards{ Th~..Qliairman 'shall .be one .or the independent'pcop1e,. app~inted by

·.Central . G.o~e~~~e~t. ·secti~n·. 9 provides. 'Ii~t·. e'acli. of the Committee,
the
sub-

,I
be
comniitte~ and Advisory Board' ·shall consi;t or nominated persons, who shall
; ·<.
J epre_sertting th~ employees and employir~)~ the s~he~t,1.l~d employment equal
in

l[il;:
f ft.i,numb'er., The Government shall app<;>int independent p~rrons not
H• ·•'·,' ( . . ,. . ,... I . .
exceeding
., , .
one-
.,;
 22
thi rd of the tot al num ber of me
mb ers and sha ll app oin t on~
of suc h lnd epe n
per son s to be the cha irm an.
Th e exp res sio n "in dep end ent
per son " me ans a per son oth er
are em plo yer in rela tion to the tha n tho se Who
-sc hed ule d em plo ym ent and em
the sch edu led em plo ym ent in plo yee s in rel atio n to
res pec t of wh ich mi nim um wa
rixed. In Gangadaran Pillai Vs. Sta ges are ~ou ght to ~
te of Kerala end others 1968 (I)
the re is no inf rin gem ent of Sec LL .J. 390 it wa s hel d
tion 9 by the nom ina tio n of Go
be ind epe nde nt me mb ers of ver nm ent Officials to
the advisory boa rd. Th e que
Go ver nm ent Officials c-ould be stio n wh eth er a
app oin ted on a boa rd as an ind
bee n set at res t by a dec isio n of epe nde nt per son ha s
the Sup rem e Co urt
ln the State of Andhre Pradesh
Vs. Nar~yana Velur Beedl Manuf
. •
others 1973 (1) L.L.J. 476, the Co acturing Factory end
urt hel d tha t the fac t tha t the
fun ctio n as ind epe nde nt me mb per son nom ina ted to
er in the com mit tee is a Go ver
ba r to suc h nom ina tio n. nm ent Official, is no
":i,\'
Sec tio n 9 doe s not req uir e tha
t the rep res ent ativ e·o f"e ~pl oye
be em plo yee s in the em plo ym ent es sho uld act ual ly_.
I.'· ha s exp eri enc e or kno wle dge
in que stio n, nor do~s it req uir e
th~ t.J! per son .wh o·
' in one cap aci ty or ano the r
I em plo yee s . in a par tic ula r ind of the pro ble ms of
,.
!,
pur pos e of nom ina tio n un der
ust ry . can not rep res ent tho se
Sec tion 9. Similarly, rep res ent ativ
employees for the .
,,.I no t be a per son eng age d for pro e of employer ne·e d
fit in a par ticu lar em plo ym ent .
:i- No pro ced ure has bee n pre scr
ibe d in the Act as to the me
\i Advisory Bo ard is to ado pt tho d wh ich the
' ' before ma k~ its rec om me nda
fj:
1,, Go ver nm ent . lt can dev ise its tio ns to the Sta te,
own pro ced ure and collect som
e information by
r~,1 app oin tm ent of a sub -co mm itte
AU TH OR ITY UN DE R TH E ACT..
e con sist ing only of som e of its
me. r:nb ers.
/i
l Sec tio n 19 of the Act aut hor ize ,
s ·the Go ver nm ent to app oin t
,
,1
I
ins pec tor s for the pur pos es of
thi s Act and als o def ine d the loc
suc h per son as
•·; the ins pec tor s sha ll exe rcis e the al lim its within wh ich
ir fun ctio n. An ins pec tor app oin
i~ ma y ent er at all rea son ab! e hou ted und er thi s Act
'il
i• rs. An y pre mis es wh ere em plo yee
di· wo rk or wo rke rs- in any em plo s are employed at
ym ent wh ere min imu m rat es
rixed, for exa min ing any reg iste of wa ges hav e bee n
r or rec ord of wages or not ice s
un der thi s Act. He ma y e:xrunine req uir ed to be kep t
,1
·:~:. any per son wh om he fin ds in any
pla ce or em plo yed the rei n or suc h pre mis es or
i~\''. . ma y req uir e any per son giv
an em plo yee to wh om wo rk is
given out of the rein . He
111' en out wo rk and any ou t wo rke
wit h res pec t to the nam es and rs to give infotmatio~
if:\ · wo rk is giv en ou t or received,
add res ses of the per son to, for
and wit h res pec t to the pay me
and from wh om the
·~·1·. wo rk. nts to be ma de for the

t '
l
Su ch ins pec tor ma y sel zc or
· wh ich is rel eva nt for the pur
tea sof l to bel iev e has bee n com
In Sar pah ch Gra m Pan cha
tak e cop ies or reg iste r, rec ord
pos e 6f p1·ovlng an offence un
mit ted by an em plo yer . .
yat Vs . Ramglrl A.I.~. 1968
der
of wa ges of not ice s,
the Act wh ich he has

revenu e offi t;er s app oin ted S.C. 222 it wa s held tha t
as Ins pec tor s are und er the
adm ini stra thi e con tro l of

....,,-..,.....,._ - ...
 'h '

.e:'
~ ~
~\ .
.., ':1',;'

.J. 23
-~-:.

:~:- ~:co:mmissio~e·r :Coll~cto'r arid and

they h a v e ~ to giv~· relief und.er Sec~on
-~~ •Y 20'(2), but have large powers of supervision ~~
under Section 19. .
etical
&<\: !fi!: ,j,-·•• ,• '· 'S~ction ·10 provides that the ·Government may correct clerical or arithmtherein
arising
< i •;i v error 1n any order fixing the m_inlmum rates of wages or any error
I
,.~ , I • • • f• 1 I • I

· d~e :o ~Y slip or o~is~!.o ~y a 'notification iri the Official Gazette.

'
(
to the payment · of
a · '(f•· .'.,. ·:.,,.~ec_t_i~n ; ~. p~ovid_e~ . that the Government may authorize custom ary, The
r..,L ·' minimum wages either wholly or partly In kind where it
is
1$
Government may
~; '·_ minlmum·wages payable under this Act shall be.paid,ln cash; The
Se'ction 12 ·
d
, ·. ' also authorize the supply of essential commodities at concessional rates.shall pay to
lays dow~ where notification under' Section 5 is In force, the employer
which is not
every ·employer engaged in 'a scheduled employment under him wages
class of
.less than the minimum rate of wages rLXed by such notification for that
not affect
employees in that employment without any deduction. -The Section shall
,.. the provisions of the Payment of Wage Act 1936.
)
WORKING-1iOURS
f' under the
:· · Sediorf 13 provides that where the •minimum wag~s· have been fixed
working day .,.
Act, the Government may fix the number of hours of work in a
inclusive or one or more. intervals, and may also provide for a day
of rest with
e for work
remuner.ation in every period of seven days, The Government may provid
ions of sub-
.•do_ne ·on a rest day at a rate not less than the overtime rate. The provis
to conditions
Section (1) of Section 13 shai1 ·app1y fo the fol~owing employees subject
prescribed,
(al .Employ;~$ engaged urge'nt.;o~k or in any emergency, which could·
i~t not be ·.
prevented. · · ... ·, '
must
(b) Employees engaged in preparatory work or complimentary work,· which
be' carried on out~ide the ·1_imit~: l~ydown. ·, . . . .
·(cf'J..:mpioyees·whos~~employment is:intermittent, . : -
employees ·
(d) ''where: for technical reasons the ~ork has to be completed by the
· ' ·
/ engaged,·before the duty is over. '
at times
(e) Employees engaged in work, which could not be carried on except
I

dependent on the irregular aetlort of natural forces. . ·

er of
. Under Rule 24 of the Minimum Wages (Tamil Nadu) Rules 1953, the nurnb
. · ' .
·· hours, which shall con~titute a ·normalworklng day, shall be:
a) in the' case of adult 9 hour's, 'b).irt th~ 'cas~ of child 4 yl hours and c) in
the case of
•
• : I
• • •

an adolescent employed 1n any plarttatio11 61/~ hours. · .

' ·under Se~tion 14 whe~e an empi~yee works in eieess oi the number
of hours
in working day/ he shall be paid for every hour or part of the hour so
worked a
at
Np.du) Rules
rate fixed by the Government. Ruic 26 of the Minimum Wages ('ramil
1953 p1:ovides that, when ~ woriccr works dri any dciy fol' mote
than 4~ hours in any
me '"work; •be entitlied. , to wages: a) in the case of
week; he shall irt respect of ·overti -·

Agriculture at one artd a half times the ordinary rate or wages, (b) in the
\ •
J·
case of any
scheduled ~tnployment, at double the ordinary rate o{wages.
 24
Se cti on 15 provides tha t,
wh ere an em plo ye e to wh
wa ge s ha s be en fixed un om th e mi nim um
de r thi s Act, wo rks on
req uis ite nu mb er of ho urs an y da y for pe rio d leaa
in a no rm al wo rki ng day,
no rm al wo rki ng da y, un he sh all rec eiv e wa ge a for a
r' les s the fai lur e to wo rk
om itt ed to provide him wi an d no t be ca us e th e em pt
th wo rk.
Th e ob jec t of the Act is to
en su re so me so rt of ind us
by pro vid ing th at lab ou r tri al pe ac e an d ha rm on y
ca nn ot be exploited an d
wa ge s, wh ich are fixed mu st at lea st be pro vid ed wi th
at ce rta in mi nim um rat es
pri nc ipl e, lf the co ur t were . It wo uld go ag ain st au
to up ho ld tha t pe rso ns, wh ch a
ha lf a da y sh ou ld receive, o ca n no t wo rk for mo re tha
wh at oth ers working for a n
full da y to ge t.
In PabboJan Tea Co.Ltd .
Vs. Deputy Commissioner,
L.L.J.872 it wa s he ld tha Lakhmlpur end others 196
t su b-n orm al wo rke rs are 7 (2)
wa ge s wi tho ut pe rfo rm an no t en titl ed to full mi nim
ce of a no rm al da y's work. um
Se cti on 19 pro vid es tha t
wh ere an employee pe rfo
~ wo rk to ea ch or wh ich dif rm s two or mo re cla sse s
ferent mi nim um rat e of wa of
ha s to. pa y the mi nim um ge s is ap pli cab le, the em plo
rat es of wa ge s, wh ich is in ye r
cl u~ force in res pe ct of ea ch su
tl.: ch
'· ' Se cti on 17 pro vid es, tha t ·
1q,
I . wh ere a pe rso n is employe
d on a pie cew ork for wh ich
mi nim um tim e rat es ha s
be en fixed, he sh all be pa
i: mi nim um tim e rat e.
_ ,'2..£>'
id wa ge s at no t les s tha n
·
the
~
AUTH ORITY UNOER THE ACT
I'
TO DECIDE
r'.-.· Se cti on 20 em po we rs the
Go ve rnm en t to ap po int an
LI de cid e: - (I) an y cla im ari au tho rit y to he ar an d·
f sin g ou t of pa ym en t of les
i Wages:(ii) an d wo rk do ne s tha n the mi nim um rat es
~ on su ch da ys un de r cla us of
J cla im of wa ge s at th~ ov ert e (b) or (c) of Se cti on 13 : (iii)

Ii
I ·I
Th e following pe rso ns ma
(a) an y co mm iss ion er for
im e rat e, un der Section 4,
y be ap po int ed as an au tho
wo rkm en 's Co mp en sat ion
to employees employed.
rit y to d~cide the cla im :-
an d

Go ve rnm en t ex erc isi ng fun , (b) an y officer of the Ce

~1ifi
I'
officer of the Sta te Go ve
an y oth er officer wi th an
cti on s as a lab ou r Co mm
rnm en t no t below the ran
ex pe rie nce as a jud ge at
iss ion er for an y regioh, (c)
k of a La bo ur commi{sion
ntr al
an y
er; (d)
llij1 ma gis tra te. a civil Co urt or as a sti pe
nd iar y
Th e following pe rso ns ma ·
y ap ply to the au tho rit y
em plo ye e hirils elf b) an y leg for a direction a) the
\\l\: c) an y official of a reg istere
al pra cti tio ne r au tho ris ed
in writing to ac t on his beh
:ij d Tr ad e Union au tho ris ed alf,
\'' . employee d) an y ins pe cto r in writing to ac t be ha lf of
e) any perso n ·ac tin g with ·th the

~
Th e Se cti on rel ate s to cla e pe rm iss ion of the au tho rit
im s arisin g-o ut of co ntr ave y.
employe r of the sta tut ory nti on in the pa st by the
obligation, to pay wages im
(1) of the Act, This Se po sed up on him by Se ction
ction is co ncern ed wi th pa 12
n ot fut ur e cla im s. Wh en st cla im s i.e., ac cru ed wa
·,~I au tho rity, it is for a dir ect
an a pp lication un de r su b
Se ction (2) is plade before
ges , an d
ion for pa ym en t to the em the
\ the employer was bo un d
by vir tue of sta tut ory oblig
ployer of cer tai n wages wh
ich

t
pay an d wh ich h e fai led ation un de r Section 12 (1)
to pay, Su b-Section (3) de to
als wi th directions which
the

'
 1
25
authority can make on an application entertained by it, under sub-Section ('2) That,.,
sub-Section provides for directions for the payment not only or the difference
~t!tween the w~es actually paid and the minimum wages payable, but also qf
,toyer . ,compensation for non-payment in time by the employer or the statutory wages, The
~ : __award. or compensation is in the direction or the authority and it cannot exceed ten
nony d · tun~s.the.~ount, by which the minimum wages payable, to the employee exceeded
with ·. the amou~t actu~ p~~L ·
ch a · Under Section 20 (3) the Authority has to hear the applicant ~d the ~mployer
than or give them an opportunity or being heard. Though Section 20 (3) provides for a
ful'ther inquiry, but this has to be at the discretion or the authority. The nature and
7 (2) scope of enquicy would depend on the exact controversy raised in the ·case.
num .. The moment or a person passes out from the.category or an employee to that or
a non-employee, which will include an ex-employee, he ceases to be a member or
es or the class of ,persons for w~pm.the remedy under Secti~n 20 of the Act has been
loyer enacted. The word ell:_lployee as define~ in. Section 2(i) of the Act does not include an
~uch ex-employee and the only person who cari maintain ah. application under Section
:20 or the· empfoye·r on· the date on which he presents an application under the
hich provisions of the Act, ·
the .. . A re;ding or this' Section would no doubt fndicat~ that p. claim for minimum
·wages can.'be made by a workman' under this Section within a. period or'six months
as a matter of a right and after the expiry or the period of six months the Authority
and has the
·dlscretio·n· to admit such an ,application, if the applicant shows sufficient
!S Of cause rdr the delay; The 'Mlnimum Wages Act was enacted in the year 1948, but
and •• _! ~eetion· 339:(2) or the Industrial Disputes Act.was inserted in th~ year 1956, and

· •_carrieir:ito'forceMarchl0,1957, ,· . · ·. . .
... . .. : ,. ··,-.. - . ' . . .
~ . . . .. . . . '. .
~ :, ; '

lin:- · .Many High Courts .have held that Labour Court urtder Sec_tion 33C (2) or the
-, • I • • ;. ' • • ' •• • • • ' '. • ,.. V ' I ' -~ • •

.tral lndU:strl~ Di$putes Aot has jµrisdictlon 'to entertalrt an appUcation to enforce a
any '
cl~in(based
/ · ·..;-( •·j '°
~~ a'right under the Miniinum
-l •••~
Wages
•
"i":.
Act' and tha.t'language of Section
·,,. • , ,
\• ,, 0 1·.. • , · , I : ··

(d) .I'.
33 C (2) or the Ind\lstrial Pispu'tes Aet, is wide enough to 'include claims based on
. . • '( ' ,· . ·. . •. •• ' • . • t .: • •

tary . .-: rights arising under ~ .e.Min_lin~m Wages Act. ·

,.. •.: , , • ~•
.
• • . •'":
. . ; • : ), t ' , . ' ,' I , • •, I • , ' • ,

·. , Though .the S1:1p.rern~ -Court, ATH,ANI

, • , , ,,l
MUNICIPALITY
.. , •r- · .
C~SF
..
.•.
A.LR 19GS S.C •.1335
.
has •, • • 1
t

the left ope,n ..the ,que.$.tion,., whether- an , appHce.tlo~ und~r ~ection 33 C (2) of the
all, lndusu-iaf Oisp.utes.-Act 1947 c~ or 1cannot be ~ntertalned by a Labour court, if an
the ~~pifo~tior ~or tht~;~~:·~el_l~f.is e;~t~pJ~able b/the a.~thority_u~~er' Section 20 {l)
lty. ..~f the ~fo),.i~µm._Y{age~~A~h_l~ ~as b~nP h~ld1 in clear terms, th~t such or the claims
· as could not ~tiv~ b~e1' made before ~e au~1orit~ up.der Section 20 of the Minimum
Wa,ge~ Ac~ c;an be_agita~e~ in ~ appl_~catiot;t.under Sect~on 33 C (2) or the Industrial
P}sputes Act. . . . . .·
.
I ,
,,, .' . .: . ;

•
In KILARU GOPALA RAO Vs, LABOUR ICOURT HYDERABAD AND ANOTHER 1977
' .. • : ' : , • ~. i: • .a • • . rt •• ~'\ l '

LIC.40, ft_ :was hel~, ~mt as th9 ~0~~~1. ,it.1._t·h-~t..~a~~ ?,o,u1.~.not_have resorted to the
remedy provided by.Scc.tio,n 20.qt t:4.e ¥.~!111\;lm __W~es Act at the time, If he filed