Government of India
ONEVALUATION
STUDIES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE
MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948
|
Government of India |
|
|
ONEVALUATION
STUDIES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 IN BIDI MAKING ESTABLISHMENTS INMADHYA PRADESH |
PREFACE
The
Minimum Wages Act, 1948 aims at preventing exploitation through the payment
of un-duly low wages in those employments where'sweated'
conditions exist and the workers are vulnerable due to lack of organisation;
illiteracy; ignorance and poverty etc. The Act, therefore, empowers the
appropriate government for fixing the statutory rates of minimum wages
and to revise the same at intervals not exceeding 5 years for the Scheduled
employments.However, fixation of
the statutory minimum wage in itself does not ensure that it is paid to
the target workers. It requires effective enforcement on the part of appropriate
authorities.
Labour
Bureau was entrusted in 1981 with the task of conducting Evaluation Studies
on the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The studies, in the
first instance, were started with the employments in agriculture in selected
States. Subsequently, these studies were conducted in relatively organised
employments like Bauxite Mines, Building and Construction, Bidi and Tobacco
(including Bidi Making) Manufactories. So far, the Bureau has conducted
24 studies including the present study under the scheme.
The
present report is based on the study conducted in Bidi Making Establishments
in Madhya Pradesh falling under the Scheduled Employment "Tobacco (including
Bidi Making) Manufactories".It brings
out the special characteristics of Bidi industry and its employees in the
State.An attempt has also been made
to identify the factors influencing the level of compliance with the provisions
of the Minimum Wages Act. The report also gives detailed information regarding
the earnings of the employees, awareness about relevant Labour Laws, adequacy
of inspection arrangements and difficulties faced in the enforcement of
the Act.
The
Labour Bureau is thankful to the Labour Commissioner, Government of Madhya
Pradesh and the officers of his Organisation for the valuable co-operation
in planning the field study.The
responsibility for conducting the study and bringing out the Report devolved
on Smt. Sunita Sanghi, Director, S/Shri Ram Krishna, Joint Director, V.K.Lohumi
and Balram Deputy Directors and V.K.Joshi, Assistant Director assisted
by S/Shri J.N.Verma, A.S.Grover andK.L.Sagar
Field Officers. The Report was processed on Computer by Shri A.S.Grover,
Field officer. My appreciation goes to all of them. It is hoped that the
report will serve a useful purpose in improving the level of compliance
with the provisions of the Act in general and in the State of Madhya Pradesh
in particular.
The
views, if any, are not necessarily those of the Government of India, Ministry
of Labour.
LABOUR
BUREAU
Shimla Dated the 9th May, 2003 |
BALRAM
DIRECTOR
GENERAL |