(a) whether the Government is aware that private security agencies are exploiting unemployed youths;
(b) if so, whether most of the security agencies are paying less than the fixed minimum wage;
(c) if so, the steps likely to be taken by the Government to prevent exploitation of youth by these agencies; and
(d) the details of guidelines issued by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF LABOUR (SHRI SAHIB SINGH VERMA)
(a) to (d): In order to protect the workers engaged in the private security agencies the `Employment of Watch and Ward through private security services or directly by the employers in all Public Sector Enterprises` was included in the schedule of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 in the Central sphere Vide Gazette Notification S.O. 216 (E) dated 12.3.2001. With the inclusion, all the provisions of the act like fixed hours of a normal working day, overtime, filing of claims etc have become applicable to all the private security agencies. The Minimum Wages Act provides for enforcement both at the Central and State sphere. The Inspectors, who are appointed under the Act conduct regular inspections of the establishments and advise the employers to make payment of shortfall of wages whenever any case of non-payment or less payment of minimum wages is detected. There are legal and penal provisions against the defaulting employers.