The Indian Constitution has defined a 'living wage' that is the level of income for a worker which will ensure a basic standard of living including good health, dignity, comfort, education and provide for any contingency.
Due to an unjust attention towards the decades-old law it is now exploited by major businesses to underpay their employees, In public opinion government must set an yearly wage change just like countries internationally do.
To achieve this in its first session during November 1948, the Central Advisory Council appointed a Tripartite Committee of Fair Wage.
This committee came up with the concept of a minimum wage, which not only guarantees bare subsistence and preserves efficiency but also provides for education, medical requirements and some level of comfort.
[8] 1946: A bill on minimum wages was introduced in Central Legislative assembly on the recommendations of 8th Standing Labour Committee.
The 8th meeting of the Standing Labour Committee, 1946[8] also recommended that a separate legislation that specified working hours, minimum wages and paid holidays of unorganised sector be enacted.
They defined minimum wages to be such that they should not only provide for subsistence but should also be enough for education, medical requirements and other amenities and should sustain efficiency.
[11] The committee recommended that factors such as nutrition requirements, poverty line, shelter, clothing, fuel, light, medical and educational expenses should be taken into account while fixing and revising minimum wages.
[13] 1991: Hon’ble Supreme court's judgment in the case of Reptakas & Co. specified that 25% of the minimum wages should also account for Children's education, required medical expenses, recreation in festivals/ceremonies and provision for old age and marriage.
It urged the civil society especially NGOs and workers' organisations to inspect and ensure payment of minimum wages.
[1] The thirtieth session also discussed that officials should be wary of fixing minimum wage rates to impracticable high levels.
1994: The 9th Centre of Indian Trade Unions conference along with insisting a minimum wage floor of Rs.
78.50, raised the following demands 1996: Government fixed the national minimum wage floor at INR 35/day as per the recommendations of NCRL.
[16] On 12 August, the Andhra Pradesh wrote to the Ministry of Rural Development that workers under the MGNREGA scheme are being paid less than the Minimum wage rate and this could attract "contempt of court".
"[16] 2010: Andhra Pradesh's government says that any payment including that under the MGNREGA scheme, below minimum wage rate is unconstitutional.
[17] National Human Right Commission convened a zonal workshop on fixation, revision and enforcement of minimum wage is Brick kiln industry.
The Labour Department decides to make revisions in minimum wage rates mandatory within three years.
2015: On 1 September 2015 labours in unorganised sector extended their support to one-day nationwide general strike[21] called by central trade unions (CTUs).
Later than Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State(IC) for Labour and Employment, elaborated on the initiatives and continuing efforts of the Government to address the issues and concerns of the Trade Unions for the welfare of workers.
All advice and recommendations form various committees and sub-committees as well as representations are collected before the specified official date and the government then proceeds to fix/revise minimum wages.
Schedule employment is carried under the railway administration, mines, oilfield, major port and corporation established by Central Act.
In sum, the implementation and enforcement of minimum wages is dismal and marginalised groups and communities suffer the most.
The government has announced that many amendments are underway to improve enforcement such as penal action against violations and mandatory revision of minimum wages every 5 years.
[33] Protests broke out throughout India coupled with controversies over corruption, under-payment of workers, poor quality of infrastructure, ambiguous source of funds and unintended negative effect on poverty.
However, such a policy would not be connected to reality due to regional differences over consumption patterns, paying capabilities of employers, requirements of employees, etc.
On the other hand, the Labour Ministry has given a proposal to the centre to impose a national floor to wage rates and most state governments have approved for it.
[35] After a two-day strike ending on 21 February 2013, PM Manmohan Singh announced that all unskilled workers would be paid the national floor level minimum wage.