The Centre is yet to reach a consensus with stakeholders for enacting a single law on wages. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya, told reporters here on Tuesday that the proposed wage law related reforms would happen after discussions with States, trade unions and employers.

The Minister, who was here to address the CII national council meeting, said: “Tripartite discussions are still on. We hope to reach a consensus shortly”.

The Minister said the Centre was seeking a consensus on the proposed reforms by scraping of four archaic laws — Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and Equal Remuneration Act 1976 — and replacing them with one new Act in tune with the needs of the time and changing economic environment.

Under the proposal, all relevant provisions related to wages and payment would be clubbed in one single enactment of codes. However, there are several contentious issues that needed to be resolved. The States’ right in implementing the law also needs to be straightened out keeping an eye of ease of compliance.

The consolidation of wage related laws would eliminate overlapping of rules and incorporate present economic realities.

Among the issues that need to be ironed out is the dynamic fixation of minimum wage across the country through a formula. Against the current prescribed minimum of wage of ₹160 a day, the trade union wants it to be hiked to ₹500. The Centre has also proposed mandatory introduction of payment of minimum wage through bank. Consultations on the issues of wages to workers during the lockout or strike period and recognition of a trade union were also on.

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