Unraveling India's Minimum Wage Odyssey: Tracing Evolution, Impact, And Execution

Medha Raj, B.A.LLB (Hons), UPES, Dehradun

ABSTRACT

India's minimum wage laws began their evolution from the colonial-era. Despite the transformative goals set by these legislative steps, a contemporary assessment reveals substantial limitations in their application, particularly in addressing the challenges faced by workers in the unorganized and informal sectors. Presently, the 2019 Code on Wages, while entailing certain notable elements such as redefined wage parameters and protocols for minimum wage adjustments, yet contains significant gaps within it. These gaps encompass ambiguous inspection procedures, inadequate penalties for non-compliance, and the exclusion of sizable segments of the workforce, posing considerable hurdles to ensuring comprehensive protection.

This paper explores India's minimum wage laws within the context of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) definition and objectives. It emphasizes the laws' role in protecting workers from exploitative wage practices and striving for fair compensation in India's complex labour landscape. Highlighting socio-economic factors, particularly the challenges faced by the unskilled labour segment, it underscores the laws' aim to bridge income gaps and uplift marginalized sections.