(a) whether the payment of minimum wages as per the Government Rules is not being made due
to negligence of labour inspectors;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) the norms laid down for payment of minimum wages and also the prescribed procedure for compliance thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)
(a) to (c): Under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the regular inspections so as to ensure payment of minimum
wages to the workers engaged in scheduled employments in the Central Sphere are undertaken by the officers of
the chief Labour Commissioner (Central), while at the State level, the responsibility of enforcement lies with
the respective State Enforcement Machinery. Whenever any irregularity is detected by the inspectors i.e., any
case of non-payment or less payment of wages to workers, the employer is advised to make payment of short-fall
of wages. In case of non-adherence of the advice, recourse to legal and penal actions against the defaulting
employers is undertaken.