MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)
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(a) to (e): Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, both Central and State
Governments are the appropriate Governments to fix/revise minimum wages in the scheduled
employments in Central and State sphere respectively. Since fishing and allied activities fall
under the purview of State Sphere, the State Governments as appropriate Governments have notified
minimum wages for such scheduled employments. On the basis of information available, a statement
showing minimum wages fixed for unskilled workers engaged in fishing and allied activities by
different States/Union Territories is Annexed.
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Under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the rates of minimum wages notified for scheduled employments
by the appropriate Governments apply equally to male and female workers. Besides, the Equal
Remuneration Act, 1976 provides for the payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers.
The enforcement of ensuring payment of minimum wages in the State Sphere is secured through the
State Enforcement Machinery. They conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of
any case of non-payment or under-payment of minimum wages, they advise the employers to make
payment of the shortfall of wages. In case of non-compliance, penal provisions prescribed in
the Act are taken recourse to. Similarly, provisions existing in the Equal Remuneration Act are
availed for its enforcement.
