Sec. 2 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

1 

THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948  

Sec. 

(ACT NO. XI OF 1948) 

[15 March 1948] 
An Act to provide for fixing minimum rates of wages in certain employments 
WHEREAS  it  is  expedient  to  provide  for  fixing  minimum  rates  of  wages  in 

certain employments; 

It is hereby enacted as follows :- 

1. Short title and extent.- (1) This Act may be called The Minimum Wages 

Act, 1948. 

(2) It extends 1[to the whole of India] 2[***]. 

2.  Interpretation.  -  In  this  Act,  unless  there  is  anything  repugnant  in  the 

subject or context,- 

3[(a)   

(aa)  

(b) 

7[(bb) 

(c)  

(d)  

“adolescent”  means  a  person  who  has  completed  his  fourteenth 
year of age but has not completed his eighteenth year; 
“adult” means a person who has completed his eighteenth year of 
age] 
“appropriate Government” means - 
(i)  

in  relation  to  any  scheduled  employment  carried  on  by 
or under the authority of the  4[Central Government or a 
railway  administration]  or  in  relation  to  a  mine,  oil  field 
or  major  port,  or  any  corporation  established  by  5[a 
Central Act], the Central Government; and 
in  relation  to  any  other  scheduled  employment  the 
6[State Government; 

(ii)  

“child”  means  a  person  who  has  not  completed  his  fourteenth 
year of age;] 
“competent  authority”  means  the  authority  appointed  by  the 
appropriate  Government  by  notification  in  its  Official  Gazette  to 
ascertain  from  time  to  time  the  cost  of  living  index  number 
applicable  to  the  employees  employed 
in  the  scheduled 
employments specified in such notification; 
“cost  of  living  index  number”  in  relation  to  employees  in  any 
scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of 
wages have been fixed, means the index number ascertained and 
declared  by  the  competent  authority  by  notification  in  Official 
Gazette  to  be  the  cost  of  living  index  number  applicable  to 
employees in such employment; 

1   Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws Order 1950 for `all the Provinces of India.” 
2   Words  “except  the  State  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir”  omitted  by  51  of  1970  (w.e.f  01-09-

1971) 

3   Substituted for clause (a) by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. 
4   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act 1957. 
5   Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950. 
6   Amended by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1954. 
7   Inserted by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. 

 
 
 
 
                            
2 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 2 

(e)  

(f)  
(g)  

(h)  

(i)  

(ii)  

(iii)  

the  head  of 

is  so  appointed, 

“employer”  means  any  person  who  employs,  whether  directly  or 
through another person,  or  whether  on behalf  of  himself  or  any 
other  person,  one  or  more  employees 
in  any  scheduled 
employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of  wages  have 
been fixed under this Act, and includes, except in sub-section (3) 
of section 26- 
(i)  

in  a  factory  where  there  is  carried  on  any  scheduled 
employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages 
have been fixed under this Act, any person named under 
clause (f) of sub- section (1) of section 7 of the Factories 
Act, 1948 (63 of 1948) 1[as manager of the factory; 
in  any  scheduled  employment  under  the  control  of  any 
Government in India in respect of which minimum rates 
of  wages  have  been  fixed  under  this  Act,  the  person  or 
authority  appointed  by    such  Government  for  the 
supervision and control of employees or where no person 
or  authority 
the 
Department; 
in any scheduled employment under any local authority 
in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of  wages  have  been 
fixed  under  this  Act,  the  person  appointed  by  such 
authority for the supervision and control of employees or 
where  no  person  is  so  appointed  the  Chief  Executive 
Officer of the local authority; 
in  any  other  case  where  there  is  carried  on  any 
scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum 
rates  of  wages  have  been  fixed  under  this  Act,  any 
person responsible to the owner for the supervision and 
control of the employees or for the payment of wages; 
“prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 
“scheduled  employment”  means  an  employment  specified  in  the 
schedule, or any process or branch of work forming part of such 
employment; 
“wages”  means  all  remuneration,  capable  of  being  expressed  in 
terms  of  money  which  would  if  the  terms  of  the  contract  of 
employment  express  or  implied,  were  fulfilled,  be  payable  to  a 
person employed in respect of his employment or of work done in 
such employment 2[ and includes house rent allowance] but does 
not include- 
the value of - 
(a)  

any  house-accommodation,  supply  of 
medical attendance; or 
any other amenity or any service excluded by general or 
special order of the appropriate Government; 

light,  water, 

(iv)  

(b)  

(ii)  

any  contribution  paid  by  the  employer  to  any  Pension  Fund  or 
Provident Fund or under any scheme of social insurance; 

1   Amended by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1954. 
2   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 

 
 
                            
Sec. 3 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

3 

(iii)  

(iv) 

(v)  
(j)  

any  travelling  allowance  or  the  value  of  any  travelling 
concession; 
any sum paid to the person employed to defray special expenses 
entailed on him by the nature of his employment; or 
any gratuity payable on discharge. 
“employee” means any person who is employed for hire or reward 
to  do  any  work  skilled  or  unskilled,  manual  or  clerical,  in  a 
scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of 
wages have been fixed; and includes an out worker to whom any 
articles or materials are given out by another person, to be made 
up,  cleaned,  washed,  altered,  ornamented,  finished,  repaired, 
adapted  or  otherwise  processed  for  sale  for  the  purposes  of  the 
trade or business of that other person where the process is to be 
carried out either in the home of the out-worker or in some other 
premises not being premises under the control and management 
of that other person; and  also includes an employee declared to 
be  an  employee  by  the  appropriate  Government;  but  does  not 
include any member of the Armed Forces of the 1[Union].  

3. Fixing of minimum rates of wages .-  2[(1) The appropriate Government 

shall, in the manner hereinafter provided,- 

3(a) 

fix the minimum rates or  wages payable to employees employed 
in  an  employment  specified  in  Part  I  or  Part  II  of  the  Schedule 
and in an employment added to either part by notification under 
section 27: 

Provided  that  the  appropriate  Government  may,  in  respect  of  employees 
employed  in  an  unemployment  specified  in  Part  II  of  the  Schedule,  instead  of 
fixing minimum rates of wages under this clause for the whole State, fixing such 
rates  for  a  part  of  the  State  or  for  any  specified  class  or  classes  of  such 
employment in the whole State or any part thereof]; 

(b)  

review  at  such  intervals  as  it  may  think  fit,  such  intervals  not 
exceeding  five  years,  the  minimum  rates  of  wages  so  fixed  and 
revise the minimum rates, if necessary: 

4[Provided  that,  where  for  any  reason  the  appropriate  Government  has  not 
reviewed  the  minimum  rates  of  wages  fixed  by  it  in  respect  of  any  scheduled 
employment  within  any  interval  of  five  years,  nothing  contained  in  this  clause 
shall be deemed to prevent it from reviewing the minimum rates after the expiry 
of the said period of five years and revising them, if necessary, and until they are 
so  revised  the minimum  rates  in  force  immediately  before  the  expiry  of  the  said 
period of five years shall continue in force.] 

5[(IA)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  sub-section  (1),  the 
appropriate Government may refrain from fixing minimum rates 
of wages in respect of any scheduled employment in which there 
are  in  the  whole  State  less  than  one  thousand  employees 

1   Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950 
2   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1954. 
3   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1961. 
4   Inserted by Act. 30 of 1957, s. 3 (w.e.f 17-09-1957) 
5   Amended by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1961. 

 
 
                            
4 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 3 

engaged in such employment, but if at any time, the appropriate 
Government  comes  to  a  finding  after  such  inquiry  as  it  may 
make  or  cause  to  be  made  in  this  behalf  that  the  number  of 
employees  in  any  scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  it 
has  refrained  from  fixing  minimum  rates  of  wages  has  risen  to 
one  thousand  or  more,  it  shall  fix  minimum  rates  of  wages 
payable  to  employees  in  such  employment  as  soon  as  may  be 
after such finding. 
(2) The appropriate Government may fix - 

(a)  

(b)  

(c)  

(d)  

a minimum rate of wages for time work (hereinafter referred to as 
“a minimum time rate”); 
a  minimum  rate  of  wages  for  piece  work  (hereinafter  referred  to 
as “a minimum piece rate”); 
a  minimum  rate  of  remuneration  to  apply  in  the  case  of 
employees employed on piece work for the purpose of securing to 
such  employees a minimum  rate  of  wages  on  a  time work  basis 
(hereinafter referred to as “a guaranteed time rate”). 
a minimum rate (whether a time rate or a piece rate) to apply in 
substitution  for  the  minimum  rate  which  would  otherwise  be 
applicable  in  respect  of  overtime  work  done  by  employees 
(hereinafter referred to as “overtime rate”). 

1[2(2-A)  Where  in  respect  of  an  industrial  dispute  relating  to  the  rate  of 
wages payable to any of the employees employed in a scheduled employment any 
proceeding is pending before a Tribunal or National Tribunal under the Industrial 
Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), or before any like authority under any other law 
for the time being in force or an award made by any Tribunal, National Tribunal 
or  such  authority  is  in  operation,  and  a  notification  fixing  or  revising  the 
minimum rates of wages in respect of the scheduled employment is issued during 
the  pendency  of  such  proceeding  or  the  operation  of  the  award;  then, 
notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the minimum rates of wages so 
fixed or so revised shall not apply to those employees during the period in which 
the proceeding is pending and the award made therein is in operation or, as the 
case  may  be,  where  the  notification  is  issued  during  the  period  of  operation  of 
any  award,  during  that  period;  and  where  such  proceeding  or  award  relates  to 
the rates of wages payable to all the employees, in the scheduled employment, no 
minimum rates of wages shall be fixed or revised in respect of that employment 
during the said period.] 

(3) In fixing or revising minimum rates of wages under this section- 

(a)  

different minimum rates of wages may be fixed for- 
different scheduled employment; 
(i)  
different  classes  of  work 
(ii)  
employments; 
adults, adolescents, children and apprentices; 
different localities; 

(iii)  
(iv)  

in  the  same  scheduled 

1   Added by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1961. 

 
 
                            
Sec. 5 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

5 

1[(b)   minimum rates of wages may be fixed by any one or more of the 

following wage periods, namely,- 
(i)  
(ii)  
(iii)  
(iv)  

by the hour, 
by the day, 
by the month, or 
by  such  other  larger  wage  period  as  may  be  prescribed 
and  where  such  rates  are  fixed  by  the  day  or  by  the 
month,  the  manner  of  calculating  wages  for  a  month or 
for a day, as the case may be, indicated]: 

Provided that where any wage periods have been fixed under section 4 of the 
Payment  of  Wages  Act,  1936  (4  of  1936),  minimum  wages  shall  be  fixed  in 
accordance therewith. 

4. Minimum rate of wages.- (1) Any minimum rate of wages fixed or revised 
by the appropriate Government in respect of scheduled employments under sec. 
3 may consist of- 
(i) 

a  basic  rate  of  wages  and  a  special  allowance  at  a  rate  to  be 
adjusted,  at  such  intervals  and  in  such  manner  as  the 
appropriate  Government  may  direct,  to  accord  as  nearly  as 
practicable with the variation in the cost of living index number 
applicable to such workers (hereinafter referred to as the “cost of 
living allowance”); or 
a basic rate of wages with or without the cost of living allowance 
and  the  cash  value  of  the  concessions  in  respect  of  supplies  of 
essential  commodities  at  concessional 
rates,  where  so 
authorised; or 
an all inclusive rate allowing for the basic rate, the cost of living 
allowance and the cash value of the concessions, if any. 
(2)  The  cost  of  living  allowance  and  the  cash  value  of  the  concessions  in 
respect  of  supplies  of  essential  commodities  at  concessional  rates  shall  be 
computed  by  the  competent  authority  at  such  intervals  and  in  accordance  with 
such directions as may be specified or given by the appropriate Government. 

(iii)  

(ii)  

2[5.  Procedure  for  fixing  and  revising  minimum  wages.-  (1)  In  fixing 
minimum  rates  of  wages  in  respect  of  any  scheduled  employment  for  the  first 
time  under  this  Act  or  in  revising  minimum  rates  of  wages  so  fixed,  the 
appropriate Government shall either- 

(a)  

(b)  

appoint as many committees and sub-committees as it considers 
necessary  to  hold  enquiries  and  advise  it  in  respect  of  such 
fixation or revision, as the case may be, or 
by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  publish  its  proposals  for 
the  information  of  persons  likely  to  be  affected  thereby  and 
specify  a  date,  not  less  than  two  months  from  the  date  of  the 
notification,  on  which  the  proposals  will  be  taken 
into 
consideration. 

(2)  After  considering  the  advice  of  the  committee  or  committees,  appointed 
under  clause  (a)  of  sub-section  (1),  or  as  the  case  may  be  all  representations 

1   Subs. by the M. W. (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act. 1957. 

 
 
 
                            
6 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 6 

received by it before the date specified in the notification under clause (b) of that 
sub-section,  the  appropriate  Government  shall,  by  notification  in  the  Official 
Gazette, fix, or, as the case may be, revise the minimum rates of wages in respect 
of each scheduled employment, and unless such notification otherwise provides, 
it shall come into force on the expiry of three months from the date of its issue: 

Provided  that  where  the  appropriate  Government  proposes  to  revise  the 
minimum rates of wages by the mode specified in clause (b) of sub-section (1) the 
appropriate Government shall consult the Advisory Board also.] 

6. [Advisory Committees and sub-committees]- Repealed by the Minimum 

Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957 (30 of 1957), section 5 (w.e.f 19-9-1957).] 

7.  Advisory  Board.-  (1)  For  the  purpose  of  co-ordinating  the  work  of 
1[committees  and  sub-committees  appointed  under  section  5]  and  advising  the 
appropriate Government, generally in the matter of fixing and revising minimum 
rates of wages, the appropriate Government shall appoint an Advisory Board. 

8. Central Advisory Board.- (1) For the purpose of advising the Central and 
2[State  Governments]  in  the  matters  of  the  fixation  and  revision  of  minimum 
rates of wages and other matters under this Act and for co-ordinating the work of 
the  Advisory  Boards,  the  Central  Government  shall  appoint  a  Central  Advisory 
Board. 

(2) The Central Advisory Board shall consist of persons to be nominated by 
the Central Government representing employers and employees in the scheduled 
employments,  who  shall  be  equal  in  number,  and  independent  persons  not 
exceeding  one-third  of  its  total  number  of  members;  one  of  such  independent 
persons  shall  be  appointed  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  by  the  Central 
Government. 

9.  Composition  of  committees,  etc.-  Each  of  the  committees,  sub- 
committees,  3[***]  and  the  Advisory  Board  shall  consist  of  persons  to  be 
nominated  by  the  appropriate  Government  representing  employers  and 
employees  in  the  scheduled  employments,  who  shall  be  equal  in  number,  and 
independent persons not exceeding one-third of its total number of members, one 
of such independent persons shall be appointed the Chairman by the appropriate 
Government. 

4[10.  Correction  of  errors.-  (1)  The  appropriate  Government  may,  at  any 
time,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  correct  clerical  or  arithmetical 
mistakes in any order fixing or revising minimum rates of wages under this Act, 
or errors arising therein from any accidental slip or omission. 

(2)  Every  such  notification  shall,  as  soon  as  may  be  after  it  is  issued,  be 

placed before the Advisory Board for information.] 

11. Wages in kind.- (1) Minimum wages payable under the Act shall be paid 

in cash. 

1   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950 
3   Omitted by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act. 1957. 
4   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
Sec. 13 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

7 

(2) Where it has been the custom to pay wages wholly or partly in kind, the 
appropriate  Government  being  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  necessary  in  the 
circumstances  of  the  case may,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  authorise 
the payment of minimum wages either wholly or partly in kind. 

(3) If the appropriate Government is of the opinion that provisions should be 
made  for  the  supply  of  essential  commodities  at  concessional  rates,  the 
appropriate  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  authorise 
the provision of such supplies at concessional rates. 

(4) The cash value of wages in kind and of concessions in respect of supplies 
of essential commodities at concessional rates authorised under sub-sections (2) 
and (3) shall be estimated in the prescribed manner. 

12.  Payment  of  minimum  rates  of  wages.-  (1)  Where  in  respect  of  any 
scheduled  employment  a  notification  under  section  5  1[***]  is  in  force,  the 
employer shall pay to every employee engaged in a scheduled employment under 
him,  wages  at  a  rate  not  less  than  the  minimum  rates  of  wages  fixed  by  such 
notification  for  that  class  of  employees  in  that  employment  without  any 
deductions  except  as  may  be  authorised  within  such  time  and  subject  to  such 
conditions as may be prescribed. 

(2)  Nothing  contained  in  this  section  shall  affect  the  provisions  of  the 

Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (IV of 1936). 

13.  Fixing  hours  for  a  normal  working  day,  etc.-  2(1)  In  regard  to  any 
scheduled  employment  minimum  rates  of  wages  in  respect  of  which  have  been 
fixed under this Act, the appropriate Government may- 

(a)  

(b)  

(c)  

fix the number of hours of work which shall constitute a normal 
working day, inclusive of one or more specified intervals; 
provide for a day of rest in every period of seven days which shall 
be allowed to all employees or to any specified class of employees 
and for the payment of remuneration in respect of such days of 
rest; 
provide  for  payment  for  work  on a  day  of  rest  at  a  rate  not  less 
than the overtime rate. 

3[(2)  The  provisions  of  sub-section  (1)  shall,  in  relation  to  the  following 
classes of employees, apply only to such extent and subject to such conditions as 
may be prescribed:- 
(a)  

employees  engaged  on  urgent  work  or  in  any  emergency  which 
could not have been foreseen or prevented; 
employees  engaged  in  work  in  the  nature  of  preparatory  or 
complementary  work  which  must  necessarily  be  carried  on 
outside  the  limits  laid  down  for  the  general  working  in  the 
employment concerned; 
employees whose employment is essentially intermittent; 
employees engaged in any work which for technical reasons has 
to be completed before the duty is over; 

(b)  

(c)  
(d)  

1   Deleted by Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   Figure “1” inserted, by Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
3   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 

 
 
 
                            
8 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 14 

(e)  

employees  engaged  in  a  work  which  could  not  be  carried  on 
except  at  times  dependent  on  the  irregular  action  of  natural 
forces. 

(3)  For  the  purposes  of  Clause  (c)  of  sub-section  (2),  employment  of  an 
employee  is  essentially  intermittent  when  it  is  declared  to  be  so  by  the 
appropriate  Government  on  the  ground  that  the  daily  hours  of  duty  of  the 
employee,  or  if  there  be  no  daily  hours  of  duty  as  such  for  the  employee,  the 
hours  of  duty,  normally  include  periods  of  inaction  during  which  the  employee 
may  be  on  duty  but  is  not  called  upon  to  display  either  physical  activity  or 
sustained attention.] 

14.  Overtime.-  (1)  Where  an  employee,  whose  minimum  rates  of  wages  is 
fixed under this Act by the hour, by the day or by such a longer wage-period as 
may  be  prescribed,  works  on  any  day  in  excess  of  the  number  of  hours 
constituting a normal working day, the employer shall pay him for every hour or 
for part of an hour so worked in excess at the overtime rate fixed under this Act 
or  under  any  law  of  the  appropriate  Government  for  the  time  being  in  force 
whichever is higher. 

(2)  Nothing  in  this  Act  shall  prejudice  the  operation  of  the  provisions  of 
section  59  of  the  Factories  Act,  1948  (63  of  1948),  1[in  any  case  where  those 
provisions are applicable] 

15. Wages of worker who works for less than normal working day.- If an 
employee  whose  minimum  rates  of  wages  has  been  fixed  under  this  Act  by  the 
day,  works  on  any  day  on  which  he  was  employed  for  a  period  less  than  the 
requisite  number  of  hours  constituting  a  normal  working  day,  he  shall,  save  as 
otherwise  hereinafter  provided,  be  entitled  to  receive  wages  in  respect  of  work 
done by him on that day as if he had worked for a full normal working day: 

Provided,  however,  that  he  shall  not  be  entitled  to  receive  wages  for  a  full 

normal working day,- 

(i)  

(ii)  

in  any  case  where  his  failure  to  work  is  caused  by  his 
unwillingness to work and not by the omission of the employer to 
provide him with work, and 
in such other cases and circumstances as may be prescribed. 

16. Wages for two or more classes of work.- Where an employee does two 
or  more  classes  of  work  to  each  of  which  a  different  minimum  rate  of  wages  is 
applicable,  the  employer  shall  pay  to  such  employee  in  respect  of  the  time 
respectively  occupied  in  each  such  class  of  work,  wages  at  not  less  than  the 
minimum rate in force in respect of each such class. 

17.  Minimum  time  rate  wages  for  piece-work.-  Where  an  employee 
employed  on  piece-work  for  which  minimum  time  rate  and  not  minimum  piece 
rate  has  been  fixed  under  this  Act,  the  employer  shall  pay  to  such  employee 
wages at not less than the minimum time rate. 

18.  Maintenance  of  registers  and  records.-  (1)  Every  employer  shall 
maintain  such  registers  and  records  giving  such  particulars  of  employees 
employed  by  him,  the  work  performed  by  them,  the  wages  paid  to  them,  the 

1   Amended by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1954. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
Sec. 19 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

9 

receipts given by them and such other particulars and in such forms as may be 
prescribed. 

(2)  Every  employer  shall  keep  exhibited,  in  such  manner,  as  may  be 
prescribed  in  the  factory,  workshop  or  place  where  the  employees  in  the 
scheduled employment may be employed, or in the case of out-workers, in such 
factory, workshop or place as may be used for giving out work to them, notices in 
the prescribed form containing prescribed particulars. 

(3) The appropriate Government may, by rules made under this Act, provide 
for  the  issue  of  wage  books  or  wage  slips  to  employees  employed  in  any 
scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of  wages  have  been 
fixed and prescribe the manner in which entries shall be made and authenticated 
in such wage books or wage slips by the employer or his agent. 

19. Inspectors.- (1) The appropriate Government may, by notification in the 
Official  gazette,  appoint  such  persons  as  it  thinks  fit  to  be  Inspectors  for  the 
purposes of this Act, and define the local limits within which they shall exercise 
their functions. 

(2)  Subject  to  any  rules  made  in  this  behalf,  an  Inspector  may,  within  the 

local limits for which he is appointed 

(a)  

(b)  

(c)  

(d)  

(e)  

enter at all reasonable hours, with such assistant (if any), being 
persons in the service of the  1[Government] or any local or other 
public  authority,  as  he  thinks  fit,  any  premises  or  place  where 
employees  are  employed  or  work  is  given  out  to  out-workers  in 
any scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of 
wages  have  been  fixed  under  this  Act,  for  the  purpose  of 
examining any register, record of wages or notices required to be 
kept or exhibited by or under this Act or rules made thereunder, 
and require the production thereof for inspection; 
examine  any  person  whom  he  finds  in  any  such  premises  or 
place  and  who,  he  has  reasonable  cause  to  believe,  is  an 
employee  employed  therein  or  an  employee  to  whom  work  is 
given out therein; 
require any person giving out-work and any out-workers to give 
any  information,  which  is  in  his  power  to  give,  with  respect  to 
the names and addresses of the persons, to, for and from whom 
the  work  is  given  out  or  received,  and  with  respect  to  the 
payment to be made for the work; 
2[seize or take copies of such register, record of wages or notices 
or portions thereof as he may consider relevant, in respect of an 
offence  under  this  Act  which  he  has  reason  to  believe  has  been 
committed by an employer; and] 
exercise such other powers as may be prescribed. 

(3)  Every  Inspector  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  public  servant  within  the 

meaning of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). 

3[(4)  Any  person  required  to  produce  any  document  or  thing  or  to  give  any 
information  by an Inspector  under  sub-section  (2)  shall  be  deemed  to  be  legally 

1   Substituted by the A.O 1950 for “Crown” 
2   Subs. by Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act. 1957. 
3   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act. 1957. 

 
 
                            
10 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 20 

bound to do so within the meaning of section 175 and section 176 of the Indian 
Penal Code (45 of 1860).] 

20.  Claims.-  (1)  The  appropriate  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 
Official Gazette, appoint 1[any Commissioner for workmen's Compensation or any 
officer of the Central Government exercising functions as a Labour Commissioner 
for  any  region,  or  any  officer  of  the  State  Government  not  below  the  rank  of 
Labour  Commissioner  or  any]  other  officer  with  experience  as  a  judge  of  a  Civil 
Court  or  as  a  stipendiary  Magistrate  to  be  the  Authority  to  hear  and  decide  for 
any specified area all claims arising out of the payment of less than the minimum 
rates of wages 2[or in respect of the payment of remuneration for days of rest for 
work  done  on  such  days  under  clause  (b)  or  clause  (c)  of  sub-section  (1)  of 
section  13  or  of  wages  at  the  overtime  rate  under  section  14,]  to  employees 
employed or paid in that area. 

(2)  3[Where  an  employee  has  any  claim  of  the  nature  referred  to  in  sub-
section  (1)],  the  employee  himself,  or  any  legal  practitioner  or  any  official  of  a 
registered  trade  union  authorised  in  writing  to  act  on  his  behalf,  or  any 
Inspector,  or  any  person  acting  with  the  permission  of  the  Authority  appointed 
under  sub-section  (1),  may  apply  to  such  Authority  for  a  direction  under  sub-
section (3): 

Provided  that  every  such  application  shall  be  presented  within  six  months 
from the date on which the minimum wages 4[or other amounts] became payable: 
Provided further that any application 5[may be admitted after the said period 
of  six  months  when  the  applicant  satisfies  the  Authority  that  he  had  sufficient 
cause for not making the application within such period. 

6[(3) When any application under sub-section (2) is entertained the Authority 
shall hear the applicant and the employer, or give them an opportunity of being 
heard, and after such further inquiry, if any, as it may consider necessary, may, 
without prejudice to any other penalty to which the employer may be liable under 
this Act, direct- 

(i)  

(ii)  

in  the  case  of  a  claim  arising  out  of  payment  of  less  than  the 
minimum  rates  of  wages,  the  payment  to  the  employee  of  the 
amount by which the minimum wages payable to him exceed the 
amount  actually  paid,  together  with  the  payment  of  such 
compensation  as  the  Authority  may  think  fit,  not  exceeding  ten 
times the amount of such excess; 
in  any  other  case,  the  payment  of  the  amount  due  to  the 
employee  together  with  the  payment  of  such  compensation  as 
the Authority may think fit, not exceeding ten rupees; 

and the Authority may direct payment of such compensation in cases where the 
excess  or  the  amount  due  is  paid  by  the  employer  to  the  employee  before  the 
disposal of the application. 

1   Subs by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act. 1957. 
2   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957 dt. 15th July 1976, (w.e.f. 1st Feb. 

1977). 

3   Substituted by Act 30 of 1957, s. 12 (w.e.f 19-9-1957). 
4   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
5   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
6   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957 

 
 
 
                            
Sec. 22B 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

11 

(4)  If  the  authority  hearing  any  application  under  this  section  is  satisfied 
that  it  was  either  malicious  or  vexatious,  it  may  direct  that  a  penalty  not 
exceeding  fifty  rupees  be  paid  to  the  employer  by  the  person  presenting  the 
application. 

(5) Any amount directed to be paid under this section may be recovered- 

(a)  

(b)  

if  the  Authority  is  a  Magistrate,  by  the  Authority  as  if  it  were  a 
fine imposed by the Authority as a Magistrate, or 
if the Authority is not a Magistrate, by any Magistrate, to whom 
the Authority makes application in this behalf, as if it were a fine 
imposed by such Magistrate. 

(6) Every direction of the Authority under this section shall be final. 
(7) Every Authority appointed under sub-section (1) shall have all the powers 
of  a  Civil  Court  under  the  Code  of  Civil  Procedure,  1908  (5  of  1908),  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  evidence  and  of  enforcing  the  attendance  of  witnesses  and 
compelling  the  production  of  documents,  and  every  such  Authority  shall  be 
deemed to be a Civil Court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXXV 
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898). 

21.  Single  application  in  respect  of  a  number  of  employees.-  1[(1) 
Subject  to  such  rules  as  may  be  prescribed,  a  single  application]  may  be 
presented under section 20 on behalf or in respect of any number of employees 
employed  in  the  scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of 
wages have been fixed and in such cases the maximum compensation which may 
be  awarded  under  sub-section  (3)  of  section  20  shall  not  exceed  ten  times  the 
aggregate amount of such excess, 2[or ten rupees per head as the case may be]. 

(2)  The  Authority  may  deal  with  any  number  of  separate  pending 
applications presented under section 20 in respect of employees in the scheduled 
employments in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed, as a 
single  application  presented  under  sub-section  (1)  of  this  section  and  the 
provisions of that sub- section shall apply accordingly. 

3[22. Penalties for certain offences.- Any employer who— 

(a)  

(b)  

Pays  to  any  employee  less  than  the  minimum  rates  of  wages 
fixed for that employee's class of work, or less than the amount 
due to him under the provisions of this Act or  
Contravenes any rule or order made under section 13  

shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  which  may  extend  to  six 
months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both: 

Provided  that  in  imposing  any  fine  for  an  offence  under  this  section  the 
Court  shall  take  into  consideration  the  amount  of  any  compensation  already 
awarded against the accused in any proceedings taken under section 20. 

22A. General provision for punishment of other offences.- Any employer 
who  contravenes  any  provision  of  this  Act  or  of  any  rule  or  of  order  made 
thereunder  shall  if  no  other  penalty  is  provided  for  such  contravention  by  this 
Act, be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. 

1   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1960. 
3   Subs. and Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 

 
 
 
 
                            
12 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 22B 

22B.  Cognizance  of  Offences.-  (1)  No  Court  shall  take  cognizance  of  a 

complaint against any person for an offence- 

(a)  

(b)  

under clause (a) of section 22 unless an application in respect of 
the  facts  constituting  such  offence  has  been  presented  under 
section  20  and  has  been  granted  wholly  or  in  part,  and  the 
appropriate  Government  or  an  officer  authorised  by  it  in  this 
behalf has sanctioned the making of the complaint; 
under clause (b) of section 22 or under section 22-A, except on a 
complaint made by, or with the sanction of, an Inspector. 

(2) No Court shall take cognizance of an offence - 

(a)  

 (b)  

under  clause  (a)  or  clause  (b)  of  section  22,  unless  complaint 
thereof is made within one month of the grant of sanction under 
this section; 
under section 22-A, unless the complaint thereof is made within 
six  months  of  the  date  on  which  the  offence  is  alleged  to  have 
been committed. 

1[22C.  Offences  by  companies.-  (1)  If  the  person  committing  any  offence 
under  this  Act  is  a  company,  every  person  who  at  the  time  the  offence  was 
committed was in charge of, and was responsible, to the company for the conduct 
of  the  business  of  the  company  as  well  as  the  company  shall  be  deemed  to  be 
guilty  of  the  offence  and  shall  be  liable  to  be  proceeded  against  and  punished 
accordingly;  

Provided  that  nothing  contained  in  this  sub-section  shall  render  any  such 
person liable to any punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the offence 
was  committed  without  his  knowledge  or  that  he  exercised  all  due  diligence  to 
prevent the commission of such offence. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence 
under  this  Act  has  been  committed  by  a  company  and  it  is  proved  that  the 
offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable 
to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of 
the  company,  such  director,  manager,  secretary  or  other  officer  of  the  company 
shall  also  be  deemed  to  be  guilty  of  that  offence  and  shall  be  liable  to  be 
proceeded against and punished accordingly. 

Explanation - For the purposes of this section,- 

(a)  

(b)  

“Company”  means  any  body  corporate  and  includes  a  firm  or 
other association of individuals, and 
“Director” in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm. 

22D.  Payment of  undisbursed amounts  due  to employees.-  All  amounts 
payable by an employer to an employee as the amount of minimum wages of the 
employee under this Act or otherwise due to the employee under this Act or any 
rule or order made thereunder shall, if such amounts could not or cannot be paid 
to  the  employee  on  account  of  his  death  before  payment  or  on  account  of  his 
whereabouts  not  being  known,  be  deposited  with  the  prescribed  authority  who 
shall deal with the money so deposited in such manner as may be prescribed. 

1   Subs. and Ins. new section by Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 

 
 
 
 
                            
Sec. 25 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

13 

22E.  Protection  against  attachment  of  assets  of  employer  with 
Government.-  Any  amount  deposited  with  the  appropriate  Government  by  an 
employer to secure the due performance of a contract with that Government and 
any other amount due to such employer from that Government in respect of such 
contract shall not be liable to attachment under any decree or order of any Court 
in respect of any debt or liability incurred by the employer other than any debt or 
liability incurred by the employer towards any employee employed in connection 
with the contract aforesaid. 

22F.  Application  of  Payment  of  Wages  Act,  1936,  to  scheduled 
employments.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Payment of Wages 
Act,  1936  (4  of  1936),  the  appropriate  Government  may,  by  notification,  in  the 
Official Gazette, direct that, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), all or any 
of the provisions of the said Act shall  with such notifications, if any, as may be 
specified  in  the  notification,  apply  to  wages  payable  to  employees  in  such 
scheduled employment as may be specified in the notification. 

(2)  Where  all  or  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  said  Act  are  applied  to  wages 
payable  to  employees  in  any  scheduled  employment  under  sub-section  (1),  the 
Inspector  appointed  under  this  Act  shall  be  deemed  to  be  the  Inspector  for  the 
purpose of enforcement of the provisions so applied within the local limits of his 
jurisdiction. 

23.  Exemption  of  employer  from  liability  in  certain  cases.-  Where  an 
employer  is  charged  with  an  offence  against  this  Act,  he  shall  be  entitled,  upon 
complaint duly made by him, to have any other person whom he charges as the 
actual  offender,  brought  before  the  Court  at  the  time  appointed  for  hearing  the 
charge; and if, after the commission of the offence has been proved, the employer 
proves to the satisfaction of the Court- 

(a)  

that  he  has  used  due  diligence  to  enforce  the  execution  of  this 
act, and  
that  the  said  other  person  committed  the  offence  in  question 
without his knowledge, consent or connivance,  
that other person shall be convicted of the offence and shall be liable to the like 
punishment as if he were the employer and the employer shall be discharged: 

(b)  

Provided  that  in  seeking  to  prove,  as  aforesaid,  the  employer  may  be 
examined on oath, and the evidence of the employer or his witness, if any, shall 
be subject to cross examination by or on behalf of the person whom the employer 
charges as the actual offender and by the prosecution. 

24. Bar of suits.-No Court shall entertain any suit for the recovery of wages 

in so far as the sum so claimed- 

(a)  

(b)  

(c)  

(d)  

forms  the  subject  of  an  application  under  section  20 which  has 
been presented by or on behalf of the plaintiff, or 
has formed the subject of a direction under that section in favour 
of the plaintiff, or 
has  been  adjudged  in  any  proceeding  under  that  section  not  to 
be due to the plaintiff, or 
could have been recovered by an application under that section. 

25.  Contracting  out.-  Any  contract  or  agreement,  whether  made  before  or 
after the commencement of this Act, whereby an employee either relinquishes or 

 
 
 
 
 
 
14 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Sec. 26 

reduces  his  right  to  a  minimum  rate  of  wages  or  any  privilege  or  concession 
accruing to him under this Act shall be null and void in so far as it purports to 
reduce the minimum rate of wages fixed under this Act. 

26.  Exemptions  and  Exceptions.-  (1)  The  appropriate  Government  may, 
subject  to  such  conditions  if  any  as  it  may  think  fit  to  impose,  direct  that  the 
provisions of this Act shall not apply in relation to the wages payable to disabled 
employees. 

(2)  The  appropriate  Government  may,  if  for  special  reasons  it  thinks  so  fit, 
by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  direct  that  1[subject  to  such  conditions 
and]  for  such  period as  it  may  specify  the  provisions  of  this  Act  or  any  of  them 
shall  not  apply  to  all  or  any  class  of  employees  employed  in  any  scheduled 
employment or to any locality where there is carried on a scheduled employment. 
2[(2-A).  The  appropriate  Government  may,  if  it  is  of  opinion  that,  having 
regard to the terms and conditions of service applicable to any class of employees 
in  a  scheduled  employment  generally  or  in  a  scheduled  employment  in  a  local 
area  3[or  to  any  establishment  or  a  part  of  any  establishment  in  a  scheduled 
employment]  it  is  not  necessary  to  fix  minimum  wages  in  respect  of  such 
employees of that class 4[or in respect of employees in such establishment or part 
of any establishment ] as are in receipt of wages exceeding such limit as may be 
prescribed in this behalf, direct by notification in the Official Gazette and subject 
to  such  conditions,  if  any,  as  it  may  think  fit  to  impose,  that  the  provisions  of 
this Act or any of them shall not apply in relation to such employees: 

(3) Nothing in this Act shall apply, to the wages payable by an employer to a 

member of his family who is living with him and is dependent on him. 

Explanation - In this sub-section a member of the employer's family shall be 

deemed to include his or her spouse or child or parent or brother or sister. 

27.  Power  of  State  Government  to  add  to  schedule.-  The  appropriate 
Government, after giving by notification in the Official Gazette not less than three 
month's  notice  of  its  intentions  so  to  do,  may  by  like  notification  add  to  either 
Part  of  the  Schedule  any  employment  in  respect  of  which  it  is  of  opinion  that 
minimum  rates  of  wages  should  be  fixed  under  this  Act,  and  thereupon  the 
Schedule  shall  in  its  application  to  the  5[State  be  deemed  to  be  amended 
accordingly. 

28.  Power  of  Central  Government  to  give  directions.-  The  Central 
Government  may  give  directions  to  a  State  Government  as  to  the  carrying  into 
execution of this Act in the State. 

29.  Power  of  the  Central  Government  to  make  rules.-  The  Central 
Government  may,  subject  to  the  conditions  of  previous  publication,  by 
notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  make  rules  prescribing  the  terms  of  office  of 
the  members,  the  procedure  to  be  followed  in  the  conduct  of  business,  the 
method  of  voting,  the manner  of  filling  up  casual  vacancies  in  membership  and 

1   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1954. 
3   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
4   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
5   Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
Sec. 30A 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

15 

the  quorum  necessary  for  the  transaction  of  business  of  the  Central  Advisory 
Board. 

30. Power of appropriate Government to make rules.- (1) The appropriate 
Government may, subject to the condition of previous publication, by notification 
in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.  

(2)  Without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power  such  rules 

may- 

(a)  

(b)  

(c)  

(d)  

(e)  

(f)  

(g)  

(h)  

(i)  

(j)  

(k)  
(l)  

(m)  

(n) 

prescribe the term of office of the members, the procedure to be 
followed  in  the  conduct  of  business,  the  method  of  voting,  the 
manner  of  filling  up  casual  vacancies  in  membership  and  the 
quorum  necessary  for  the  transaction  of  business  of  the 
Committee, Sub- Committees, 1[***] and the Advisory Board; 
prescribe  the  method  of  summoning  witnesses,  production  of 
documents  relevant  to  the  subject-matter  of  the  enquiry  before 
the Committees, Sub-Committees 2[***] and the Advisory Board; 
prescribe the mode of computation of the cash value of wages in 
kind  and  of  concessions  in  respect  of  supplies  of  essential 
commodities at concessional rates. 
prescribe  the  time  and  conditions  of  payment  of,  and  the 
deductions permissible from wages; 
provide  for  giving  adequate  publicity  to  the  minimum  rates  of 
wages fixed under this Act; 
provide for a day of rest in every period of seven days and for the 
payment of remuneration in respect of such a day; 
prescribe  the  number  of  hours  of  work  which  shall  constitute  a 
normal working day; 
prescribe  the  cases  and  circumstances  in  which  an  employee 
employed for a period of less than the requisite number of hours 
constituting a normal working day shall not be entitled to receive 
wages for a full normal working day; 
prescribe the form of registers and records to be maintained and 
the particulars to be entered in such registers and records; 
provide for the issue of wage books and wage slips and prescribe 
the manner of making and authenticating entries in wage books 
and wage slips; 
prescribe the powers of Inspectors for purposes of this Act; 
regulate scale of costs that may be allowed in proceedings under 
section 20; 
prescribe  the  amount  of  court-fees  payable  in  respect  of 
proceedings under section 20; and 
provide for any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed. 

3[30A. Rules made by Central Government to be laid before Parliament.- 
1[(1)] Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid as 

1   Del. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   Del. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
3   Added by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1961. 

 
 
 
 
                            
16 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Schedule 31 

soon  as  may  be  after  it  is  made  before  each  House  of  Parliament  while  it  is  in 
session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or 
in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is 
so  laid  or  the  session  immediately  following,  both  Houses,  agree  in  making  any 
modification  in  the  rule,  or  both  Houses  agree  that  the  rule  shall  not  be  made, 
the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, 
as the case may be so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall 
be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule]. 

2[[2) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid 

as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature.] 

3[31.  Validation  of  fixation  of  certain  minimum  rates  of  wages.-  Where 

during the period- 
(a)  

commencing on the 1st of April 1952 and ending with the date of 
the  commencement  of  the  Minimum  Wages  (Amendment)  Act, 
1954 (26 of 1954); or  
commencing on the 31st day of December, 1954 and ending with 
the  date  of  the  commencement  of  the  Minimum  Wages 
(Amendment) Act, 1957 (30 of 1957); or 
commencing on 31st day of December, 1959 and ending with the 
date of the commencement of the Minimum Wages (Amendment) 
Act, 1961 (31 of 1961); 

(b)  

(c)  

minimum rates of wages have been fixed by an appropriate Government as being 
payable  to  employees  employed  in  any  employment  specified  in  the  Schedule  in 
the belief or purported belief that such rates were being fixed under clause (a) of 
sub- section (1) of section 3 as in force immediately before the commencement of 
the  Minimum  Wages  (Amendment)  Act,  1954  (26  of  1954),  or  the  Minimum 
Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957 (30 of 1957), or the Minimum Wages (Amendment) 
Act, 1961 (31 of 1961), as the case may be, such rates shall be deemed to have 
been  fixed  in  accordance  with  law  and  shall  not  be  called  in  question  in  any 
Court  on  the  ground  merely  that  the  relevant  date  specified  for  the  purpose  in 
that clause had expired at the time the rates were fixed: 

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall extend, or be construed 
to  extend,  to  affect  any  person  with  any  punishment  or  penalty  whatsoever  by 
reason  of  the  payment  by  him  by  way  of  wages  to  any  of  his  employees  during 
any period specified in this section of an amount which is less than the minimum 
rates of wages referred to in this section or by reason of non-compliance during 
the period aforesaid with any order or rule issued under section 13.] 
Schedule 

THE SCHEDULE  
[SEE SECTIONS 2(G) AND 27] 
PART I 

1.  

Employment 
establishment 

in  any  woollen  Carpet  Making  or  Shawl  Wearing 

2.  

Employment in any rice mill, flour mill or dal mill. 

1   Section  30A  renumbered  as  sub-section  (1)  thereof  by  Act  4  of  2005,  sec.  2  and 

Sch. (w.e.f. 11-1-2005). 

2   Inserted by Act 4 of 2005, sec. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f 11-01-2005). 
3   Subs. by the Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1961. 

 
 
 
                                                                    
Schedule  

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

17 

3.  

4.  

5.  

6.  

1[7.  

8.  

9.  

10.  

11.  

12.  

Employment in any tobacco (including bidi making) manufactory. 

Employment  in  any  plantation,  that  is  to  say,  any  estate  which  is 
maintained for the purpose of growing cinchona, rubber, tea or coffee. 

Employment in any oil mill.  

Employment under any local authority 

Employment on the construction or maintenance of roads or in building  
operations.] 

Employment in stone breaking or stone crushing. 

Employment in any lac manufactory. 

Employment in any mica works. 

Employment in public motor transport. 

Employment in tanneries and leather manufactory. 

2[Employment in gypsum mines. 

Employment in barites mines. 

Employment in bauxite mines.] 

3[Employment in manganese mines.] 

4[Employment in the maintenance of buildings and employment in the 

construction and maintenance of runways.] 

5[Employment in China clay mines. 

Employment in Kyanite mines.] 

6[Employment in copper mines.] 

7[Employment in clay mines covered under the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of  

1952).] 

8[Employment  in  magnesite  mines  covered  under  the  Mines  Act,  1952 
[35 of 1952).] 

9[Employment in white clay mines.] 

10[Employment in stone mines.] 

11[Employment in Steatite mines (including the mines producing  

soapstone and Talc) covered under the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952).] 

12[Employment in Ochre Mines.] 

1   Subs. by Minimum Wages (Amendment) Act, 1957. 
2   S.O. 3760 dated 4-12-62 
3   S.O. 4030 dated 30-10-67. 
4   S.O. 1987 dated 30-5-68. 
5   S.O. 586 dated 5-2-70. 
6   S.O. 795 dated 13-2-70. 
7   S.O. 796 dated 18-2-70. 
8   S.O. 2357 dated 1-7-70. 
9   S.O. 3896 dated 3-9-71. 
10  S.O. 3898 dated 15-9-71. 
11  S.O. 2972 dated 1-7-72. 
12  S.O. 2973 dated 1-7-72. 

 
 
                            
18 

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

Schedule  

1[Employment in Asbestos Mines.] 

2[Employment in Fire clay Mines.] 

3[Employment in Chromite Mines.] 

4[Employment in quartizite mines 

Employment in quartz mines 

Employment in silica mines.] 

5[Employment in Graphite mines.] 

6[Employment in felspar mines.] 

7[Employment in laterite mines.] 

8[Employment in dolomite mines 

Employment in redoxide mines.] 

9[Employment in Wolfram mines.] 

10[Employment in iron ore mines.] 

11[Employment in Granite Mines.] 

12[Employment in Rock Phosphate Mines.] 

13[Employment in Hematite Mines.] 

14[Employment in Loading and Unloading in— 

Goods Shed, Parcel Offices of Railways; 
Other Goodsheds, Godowns, Warehouses etc.; and 
Docks and Ports. 

(i)  
(ii)  
(iii) 
Other things would remain the same] 

15[Employment in marble and calcite mines.] 

16[Employment in Asphit cleaning in Railways.] 

17[Employment in Uranium Mines.] 

18[Employment in Ligmite Mines.] 

1   S.O. 2974 dated 6-7-72. 
2   S.O. 1587 dated 24-5-73. 
3   S.O. 2311 dated 3-7-75. 
4   S.O. 807 dated 4-2-76. 
5   S.O. 558 dated 29-1-77. 
6   S.O. 1823 dated 14-6-78. 
7   S.O. 2945 dated 22-9-78. 
8   S.O. 2950 dated 25-9-78. 
9   S.O. 3671 dated 7-12-78. 
10  S.O. 1757 dated 16-6-80. 
11  S.O. 2473 dated 28-9-80. 
12  S.O. 1824, dated 22-3-1983. 
13  S.O. 1957, dated 11-4-1983. 
14  Subs. by S.O. 90 (E), dated 25-1-2006. 
15  S.O. 3455, dated 20-8-1983. 
16  S.O. 2093, dated 23-4-1983. 
17  S.O. 2693, dated 1-8-1986. 
18  S.O. 493(E), dated 20-5-1998. 

 
 
                            
Schedule  

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 

19 

1[Employment in gravel Mines.] 

2[Employment in State Mines.] 

3[Employment  in  laying  of  underground  cables,  electric  lines,  water 
supply lines and sewerage of pipe lines.] 

4[Employment  of  Sweeping  and  Cleaning  excluding  activities  prohibited 
under  the  Employment  of  Manual  Scavengers  and  Construction  of  Dry 
Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.] 

PART II 

1.  Employment  in  agriculture,  that  is  to  say,  in  any  form  of  farming, 
including  the  cultivation  and  tillage  of  the  soil,  dairy  farming,  the  production, 
cultivation,  growing  and  harvesting  of  any  agricultural  or  horticultural 
commodity, the raising of live-stock, bees or poultry, and any practice performed 
by a farmer or on a farm as incidental to or in conjunction with farm operations 
(including  any  forestry  or  timbering  operations  and  the  preparation  for  market 
and delivery to storage or to market or to carriage for transportation to market of 
farm produce). 

1   S.O. 493(E), dated 20-5-1998. 
2   S.O. 493(E), dated 20-5-1998. 
3   S.O. 493(E), dated 20-5-1998. 
4   Added by S.O. 1573(E), dated 3-11-2005 (w.e.f 7-11-2005). 

 
 
 
                            
20 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 1 

THE MINIMUM WAGES (CENTRAL) RULES, 
19501 

Rule 

[SRO 776, DATED 14-10-1950] 

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 30 of the Minimum Wages Act, 
1948  (11  of  1948),  the  Central  Government  is  pleased  to  make  the  following 
rules, the same having been previously published as required by the said section, 
namely: 

CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 

1.  Short  title  and  extent:-These  rules  may  be  called  the  Minimum  Wages 

(Central) Rules, 1950. 

2. Interpretation:-In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

(a) 
(b) 

(c) 

(d) 
(e) 

(f) 

(ff) 
(g) 
(h) 

(i) 

(j) 
(k) 

„Act‟ means the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948); 
„advisory  committee‟  means  an  advisory  committee  appointed 
under  section  6  and  includes  an  advisory  sub-committee 
appointed under that section; 
„Authority‟  means  the  authority  appointed  under  sub-section  (1) 
of section 20; 
„Board‟ means the Advisory Board appointed under section 7; 
„Chairman‟  means  a  Chairman  of  the  Advisory  Board,  the 
Committee  or  the  Advisory  Committee,  as  the  case  may  be, 
appointed under section 9; 
„Committee‟  means  a  Committee  appointed  under  clause  (a)  of 
sub-section  (1)  of  section  5  and  includes  a  sub-committee 
appointed under that section; 
„day‟ means a period of twenty-four hours beginning at midnight; 
„Form‟ means a form appended to these rules; 
„Inspector‟ means a person appointed as Inspector under section 
19; 
„registered trade union‟ means a trade union registered under the 
Indian Trade Union Act, 1926 (16 of 1926); 
„section‟ means a section of the Act; and 
All  other  words  and  expressions  used  herein  and  not  defined 
shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under the 
Act. 

CHAPTER II 
MEMBERS AND STAFF, AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE AND 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

3.  Term  of  office  of  the  members  of  the  Committee  and  the  Advisory 
Committee:-The term of office of the members of the Committee or an Advisory 
Committee  shall  be  such  as  in  the  opinion  of  the  Central  Government  is 
necessary  for  completing  the  enquiry  into  the  scheduled  employment  concerned 
and  the  Central  Government  may,  at  the  time  of  the  constitution  of  the 

1   Vide S.R.O. 776, dated 14-10-1950. 

 
 
 
 
                            
Rule 8 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

21 

Committee  or  an  Advisory  Committee,  as  the  case  may  be,  fix  such  terms  and 
may, from time to time, extend it as circumstances may require. 

4.  Term  of  office  of  members  of  the  Board:-(1)  Save  as  otherwise 
expressly  provided  in  these  rules,  the  term  of  office  of  a  non-official  member  of 
the Board, shall be two years commencing from the date of his nomination: 

Provided  that  such  member  shall,  notwithstanding  the  expiry  of  the  said 

period of two years, continue to hold office until his successor is nominated. 

(2)  A  non-official  member  of  the  Board  nominated  to  fill  a  casual  vacancy 
shall  hold  office  for  the  remaining  period  of  the  term  of  office  of  the  member  in 
whose place he is nominated. 

(3) The official members of the Board shall hold office during the pleasure of 

the Central Government. 

4A. Nomination of substitute members:-If a member is unable to attend a 
meeting  of  the  Committee  or  the  Board,  the  Central  Government  or  the  body 
which nominated him may, by notice in writing signed on its behalf and by such 
member  and  addressed  to  the  chairman  of  the  said  Committee  or  the  Board, 
nominate  a  substitute  in  his  place  to  attend  that  meeting.  Such  a  substitute 
member shall have all the rights of a member in respect of that meeting. 

5.  Travelling  allowance:-A  non-official  member  of  the  Committee,  an 
Advisory Committee or the Board shall be entitled to draw travelling and halting 
allowances  for  any  journey  performed  by  him  in  connection  with  his  duties  as 
such  member  at  the  rates  and  subject  to  the  conditions  applicable  to  a 
Government servant of the first class under the appropriate rules of the Central 
Government. 

6.  Staff:-(1)  The  Central  Government  may  appoint  a  Secretary  to  the 
Committee, an Advisory Committee or the Board, and such other staff as it may 
think  necessary,  and  may  fix  the  salaries  and  allowances  payable  to  them  and 
specify their conditions of service. 

(2)  (i)  The  Secretary  shall  be  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  Committee, 
the  Advisory  Committee  or  the  Board;  as  the  case  may  be.  He  may  attend  the 
meetings of such Committee, Advisory Committee or  the Board but shall not be 
entitled to vote at such meetings. 

(ii) 

The  Secretary  shall  assist  the  Chairman  in  convening  meetings 
and  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  minutes  of  such  meetings  and 
shall  take  necessary  measures  to  carry  out  the  decisions  of  the 
Committee,  the  Advisory  Committee  or  the  Board,  as  the  case 
may be. 

7.  Eligibility  for  renomination  of  the  members  of  the  Committee, 
Advisory  Committee  and  the  Board:-An  outgoing  member  shall  be  eligible  for 
re-nomination for the membership of the Committee, Advisory Committee or the 
Board, of which he was a member. 

8. Resignation of the Chairman and Members of the Committee and the 
Board  and  filling  of  casual  vacancies:-(1)  A  member  of  the  Committee  or  the 
Board other than the Chairman may, by giving notice in writing to the Chairman, 
resign  his  membership.  The  Chairman  may  resign  by  a  letter  addressed  to  the 
Central Government. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 9 

(2)  A  resignation  shall  take  effect  from  the  date  of  communication  of  its 
acceptance or on the expiry of 30 days from the date of resignation whichever is 
earlier. 

(3)  When  a  vacancy  occurs  or  is  likely  to  occur  in  the  membership  of  the 
Committee  or  the  Board,  the  Chairman  shall  submit  a  report  to  the  Central 
Government  immediately.  The  Central  Government  shall  take  steps  to  fill 
vacancy. 

9.  Cessation  and  restoration  of  membership:-(1)  If  a  member  of  the 
Committee,  Advisory  Committee  or  the  Board  fails  to  attend  three  consecutive 
meetings, he shall subject to the provisions of sub-rule (2), cease to be a member 
thereof. 

(2)  A  person,  who  ceases  to  be a member  under  sub-rule  (1)  shall  be given 
intimation  of  such  cessation  by  a  letter  sent  to  him  by  registered  post  within 
fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  such  cessation.  The  letter  shall  indicate  that  if  he 
desires  restoration  of  his  membership  he  may  apply  therefor  within  thirty  days 
from the receipt of such letter.  The application for restoration of membership, if 
received  within  the  said  period,  shall  be  placed  before  the  Committee,  the 
Advisory  Committee  or  the  Board,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  if  a  majority  of 
members  present  at  the  next  meeting  is  satisfied  that  the  reasons  for  failure  to 
attend three consecutive meetings are adequate, the member shall be restored to 
membership immediately after a resolution to that effect is adopted. 

10. Disqualification:-(1) A person shall be disqualified for being nominated 
as, and for being a member of the Committee, Advisory Committee or the Board, 
as the case may be,— 

(i) 
(ii) 
(iii) 

if he is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent court; or 
if he is an undischarged insolvent; or 
if  before  or  after  the  commencement  of  the  Act,  he  has  been 
convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude. 

(2) If any question arises whether a disqualification has been incurred under 

sub-rule (1) the decision of the Central Government thereon shall be final. 

11. Meetings:-The Chairman may, subject to the provisions of rule 12, call 
a meeting of the Committee, Advisory Committee or the Board, as the case may 
be, at any time he thinks fit: 

Provided  that  on  a  requisition  in  writing  from  not  less  than  one  half  of  the 
members the Chairman shall call a meeting within fifteen days from the date of 
the receipt of such requisition. 

12. Notice of meetings:-The Chairman shall fix the date, time and place of 
every meeting, and a notice in writing containing the aforesaid particulars along 
with  a  list  of  business  to  be  conducted  at  the  meeting  shall  be  sent  to  each 
member  by  registered  post  at  least  fifteen  days  before  the  date  fixed  for  such 
meeting : 

Provided that in the case of an emergent meeting, notice of seven days only 

may be given to every member. 

13.  Chairman:-(1)  The  Chairman  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the 

Committee, Advisory Committee or the Board, as the case may be. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rule 18 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

23 

(2) In the absence of the Chairman at any meeting the members shall elect 
from amongst themselves by a majority of votes, a member, who shall preside at 
such meeting. 

1[14.  Quorum:-No  business  shall  be  transacted  at  any  meeting  unless  at 
least  one-third  of  the members  and at  least  one  representative  each  of both  the 
employers and employees are present: 

Provided  that  if  at  any  meeting  less  than  one-third  of  the  members  are 
present,  the  Chairman  may  adjourn  the  meeting  to  a  date  not  later  than  seven 
days  from  the  date  of  the  original  meeting  and  it  shall  thereupon  be  lawful  to 
dispose of the business at such adjourned meeting irrespective of the number of 
members present: 

2[Provided further that the  date, time and place of such adjourned meeting 

shall be intimated to all the members by telegram or by written communication]. 

15.  Disposal of  business:-All  business  shall  be  considered  at  a meeting  of 
the Committee, Advisory Committee or the Board, as the case may be, and shall 
be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting. In the 
event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote: 

Provided  that  the  Chairman  may,  if  he  thinks  fit,  direct  that  any  matter 
shall  be  decided  by  the  circulation  of  necessary  papers  and  by  securing  written 
opinion of the members: 

Provided further that no decision on any matter under the preceding proviso 
shall  be  taken  unless  supported  by  not  less  than  a  two-thirds  majority  of  the 
members. 

16.  Method  of  voting:-Voting  shall  ordinarily  be  by  show  of  hands,  but  if 
any  member  asks  for  voting  by ballot,  or  if  the  Chairman  so decides,  the  voting 
shall be by secret ballot and shall be held in such manner as the Chairman may 
decide. 

17.  Proceedings  of  the  meetings:-(1)  The  proceedings  of  each  meeting 
showing inter alia the names of the members present there shall be forwarded to 
each  member  and  to  the  Central  Government  as  soon  after  the  meeting  as 
possible and in any case, not less than seven days before the next meeting. 

(2)  The  proceedings  of  each  meeting  shall  be  confirmed  with  such 

modification if any, as may be considered necessary at the next meeting. 

CHAPTER III 
SUMMONING OF WITNESSES BY THE COMMITTEE, ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
AND THE BOARD AND PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS 

18.  Summoning  of  witnesses  and  production  of  documents:-(1)  A 
Committee, Advisory Committee or the Board may summon any person to appear 
as a witness in the course of an enquiry. Such summons may require a witness 
to appear before it on a date specified therein and to produce any books, papers 
or other documents and things in his possession or under this control relating to 
any manner to the enquiry. 

(2) A summons under sub-rule (1) may be addressed to an individual or an 

organisation of employers or a registered trade union of workers. 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 2201, dated 12-12-1968.  
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 751, dated 1-7-1974 (w.e.f. 13-7-1974).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
24 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 19 

(3) A summons under this rule may be served— 

(i) 

(ii) 

in the case of an individual, by being delivered or sent to him by 
registered post; 
in  the  case  of  an  employers‟  organisation  or  a  registered  trade 
union of workers, by being delivered or sent by registered post to 
the  secretary  or  other  principal  officer  of  the  organisation  or 
union, as the case may be. 

(4) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) relating to 
the  summoning  and  enforcement  of  the  appearance  of  witnesses  and  the 
production  of  documents  shall,  so  far  as  may  be,  apply  to  proceedings  before  a 
Committee, Advisory Committee or the Board. 

1[(5)  All  books,  papers  and  other  documents  or  things  produced  before  a 
Committee, or  the Board in pursuance of a summons issued under sub-rule (1) 
may be inspected by the Chairman and independent members, and also by such 
parties  as  the  Chairman  may allow  with  the  consent of  the  other party,  but  the 
information  so  obtained  shall  be  treated  as  „confidential‟  and  the  same  shall  be 
made public only with the consent in writing of the party concerned: 

Provided that nothing contained in this rule shall apply to the disclosure of 
any such information for the purpose of a prosecution under section 193 of the 
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).] 

19.  Expenses  of  witnesses:-Every  person  who  is  summoned  and  appears 
as a witness before the Committee, the Advisory Committee or the Board shall be 
entitled  to  an  allowance  for  expenses  incurred  by  him  in  accordance  with  the 
scale  for  the  time  being  in  force  for  payment  of  such  allowance  to  witnesses 
appearing in civil courts in the State. 

CHAPTER IV 
COMPUTATION AND PAYMENT OF WAGES, HOURS OF WORK AND 
HOLIDAYS 

20. Mode of computation of the cash value of wages:-The retail prices at 
the  nearest  market  shall  be  taken  into  account  in  computing  the  cash  value  of 
wages paid in kind and of essential commodities supplied at concessional rates. 
This  computation  shall  be  made  in  accordance  with  such  directions  as  may  be 
issued by the Central Government from time to time. 

21.  Time  and  conditions  of  payment  of  wages  and  the  deductions 
permissible  from  wages:-(1)(i)  2[The  wages  of  a  worker  in  any  scheduled 
employment] shall be paid on a working day,— 

(a) 

(b) 

in  the  case  of  establishment  in  which  less  than  one 
thousand persons are employed, before the expiry of the 
seventh day, and 
in  the  case  of  other  establishments  before  the  expiry  of 
the  tenth  day,  after  the  last  day  of  the  wage  period  in 
respect of which the wages are payable. 

(ii)  

Where  the  employment  of  any  person  is  terminated  by  or  on 
behalf  of  the  employer,  the  wages  earned  by  him  shall  be  paid 

1   Inserted by G.S.R. 466, dated 2-3-1970.  
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959.  

 
 
 
 
                            
Rule 21 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

25 

(iii)  

before  the  expiry  of  the  second  working  day  after  the  day  on 
which his employment is terminated. 
The  wages  of  an  employed  person  shall  be  paid  to  him  without 
deduction of any kind except those authorised by or under these 
rules. 

Explanation.—Every payment made by the employed person to the employer 
or his agent shall, for the purposes of these rules, be deemed to be a deduction 
from wages. 

(2)  Deductions  from  the  wages  of  a  person  employed  in  a  scheduled 

employment shall be of one or more of the following kinds, namely :— 

(i) 

(ii) 
(iii) 

(iv) 
(v) 

fines  in  respect  of  such  acts  and  omissions  on  the  part  of 
employed  persons  as  may  be  specified  by  the  Central 
Government by general or special order in this behalf; 
deductions for absence from duty; 
deductions for damage to or loss of goods expressly entrusted to 
the employed person for custody, or for loss of money for which 
he is required to account, where such damage or loss is directly 
attributable to his neglect or default; 
deductions for house accommodation supplied by the employer; 
deductions  for  such  amenities  and  services  supplied  by  the 
employer as  the  Central  Government may,  by  general  or  special 
order, authorise. 

Explanation.—The  words  „amenities  and  services‟  in  this  clause  do  not 
include  the  supply  of  tools  and  protectives  required  for  the  purposes  of 
employment; 

(vi) 

deductions  for  recovery  of  advances  or  for  adjustment  of  over 
payments of wages : 

Provided  that  such  advances  do  not  exceed  an  amount  equal  to  wages  for 
two calendar months of the employed person and, in no case, shall the monthly 
instalment of deduction exceed one-fourth of the wages earned in that month; 

(vii) 
(viii) 

(ix) 

2[(x) 

deductions of income-tax payable by the employed person; 
deductions  required  to  be  made  by  order  of  a  court  or  other 
competent authority; 
deductions  for  subscriptions  to,  and  for  repayment  of  advances 
from any provident fund to which the Provident Funds‟ Act, 1952 
(19 of 1952), applies or any recognised provident fund as defined 
in section 58A of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922) (11 of 1922)1, 
or  any  provident  fund  approved  in  this  behalf  by  the  Central 
Government during the continuance of such approval; 
deductions for payment to  co-operative societies  3[or deductions 
for recovery of loans advanced by an employer from out of a fund 
maintained for the purpose by the employer and approved in this 
behalf by the Central Government] or deductions made with the 
written authorization of the person employed, for payment of any 

1   Now see the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961). 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 659, dated 26-7-1958.  
3   Inserted by G.S.R. 717, dated 15-6-1960.  

 
 
                            
26 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 21 

premium,  on  his  life  insurance  policy  to  the  Life  Insurance 
Corporation  of  India  established  under  the  Life  Insurance  Act, 
1956 (31 of 1956);  

1[(xi) 

deductions  for  recovery  or  adjustment  of  amounts,  other  than 
wages, paid to the employed person in error or in excess of what 
is due to him : 

2[(xii)  deductions made with the written authorisation of the employed 
persons (which may be given once generally and not necessarily 
every time a deduction is made), for the purchase of securities of 
the Government of India or of any State Government or for being 
deposited in any Post Office Savings Bank in furtherance of any 
savings scheme of any such Government;] 

3[(xiii)  deductions made with the written authorisation of the employed 
person  for  contributions  to  the  National  Defence  Fund  or  the 
Prime Minister‟s National Relief Fund or to any Defence Savings 
Scheme  4[approved by the Central Government or to such other 
Fund  as  the  Central  Government]  may,  by  notification  in  the 
Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;] 

5[(xiv)  deductions  for  recovery  of  loans  granted  for  house  building  or 
other purposes approved by the Central Government, and for the 
interest due in respect of such loans, subject to any rules made 
or approved by the Central Government regulating the extent to 
which  such  loans  may  be  granted  and  the  rate  of  interest 
payable thereon.] 

Provided that prior approval of the Inspector or any other officer authorised 
by the Central Government in this behalf is obtained in writing before making the 
deductions, unless the employee gives his consent in writing to such deductions.] 
6[(2A)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  these  rules,  the  total  amount 
of  deductions  which  may  be  made  under  sub-rule  (2)  in  any  wage  period,  from 
the wages of an employee shall not exceed— 

(i) 

(ii) 

75  per  cent  of  such  wages  in  cases  where  such  deductions  are 
wholly  or  partly  made  for  payments  to  Consumer  Co-operative 
Stores  run  by any  Co-operative  Society  under  clause  (x)  of  sub-
rule (2); and 
50 per cent of such wages in any other case: 

Provided that where the total amount of deductions which have to be made 
under  sub-rule  (2)  in  any  wage  period  from  the  wages  of  any  employee  exceeds 
the limit specified in clause (i), or, as the case may be, clause (ii) of this sub-rule, 
the  excess  shall  be  carried  forward and  recovered  from  the  wages  of  succeeding 
wage period or wages periods as the case may be, in such number of instalments 
as may be necessary.] 

1   Inserted by S.R.O. 298, dated 23-1-1957.  
2   Inserted by G.S.R. 627, dated 22-4-1961.  
3   Substituted by G.S.R. 676, dated 7-6-1980 (w.e.f. 21-6-1980). 
4   Corrected by G.S.R. 463(E), dated 2-8-1980.  
5   Inserted by G.S.R. 676, dated 7-6-1980 (w.e.f. 21-6-1980). 
6   Inserted by G.S.R. 676, dated 7-6-1980 (w.e.f. 21-6-1980). 

 
 
                            
Rule 23 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

27 

(3) Any person desiring to impose a fine on an employed person or to make a 
deduction for damage or loss caused by him shall explain to him personally and 
also in writing the act or omission or the damage or loss, in respect of which the 
fine or deduction is proposed to be imposed or made and give him an opportunity 
to  offer  any  explanation  in  the  presence  of  another  person.  The  amount  of  the 
said fine or deduction shall also be intimated to him. 

1[(4) The amount of fine or deduction for damage or loss mentioned in sub-
rule (3) shall be subject  to  such limits as may be specified in this behalf by the 
Central  Government.  All  such  fines  imposed  and  deductions  made  shall  be 
recorded  in  the  registers  maintained  in  Forms  I  and  II,  respectively.  These 
registers shall be kept at the workspot and maintained up-to-date. Where no fine 
or  deduction  has  been  imposed  or  made  on  or  from  any  employee  in  a  wage 
period, a „nil‟ entry shall be made across the body of the relevant register at the 
end of the wage period, indicating also in precise terms the wage period to which 
the „nil‟ entry relates.] 

2[(4A) Every employer shall send annually a return in Form III 3[***] so as to 
reach the Inspector not later than the 1st February following the end of the year 
to which it relates. 

4[(5) The amount of fine imposed under sub-rule (3) shall be utilised only for 
for  such  purposes  beneficial  to  the  employees  as  are  approved  by  the  Central 
Government.] 

(6)  Nothing  in  this  rule  shall  be  deemed  to  affect  the  provisions  of  the 

Payment of Wages Act, 1936.] 

22.  Publicity  to  the  minimum  wage  fixed  under  the  Act:-Notices  5[in 
Form IX-A] containing the minimum rates of wages fixed together with  6[extracts 
of]  the  Act,  the  rules  made  thereunder  and  the  name  and  address  of  the 
Inspector  shall  be  displayed  in  English  and  in  a  language  understood  by  the 
majority  of  the  workers  in  the  employment  7[at  the  main  entrances  to  the 
establishment  and  at  its  office]  and  shall  be  maintained  in  a  clean  and  legible 
condition.  Such  notices  shall  also  be  displayed  on  the  notice  boards  of  all  sub-
divisional and District offices. 

8[23.  Weekly  day  of  rest:-(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  rule,  an 
employee  in  a  scheduled  employment  in  respect  of  which  minimum  rates  of 
wages  have  been  fixed  under  the  Act,  shall  be  allowed  a  day  of  rest  every  week 
(hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  „rest  day‟)  which  shall  ordinarily  be  Sunday,  but 
the employer may fix any other day of the week as the rest day for any employee 
or class of employees in that scheduled employment: 

Provided that the employee has worked in the scheduled employment under 

the same employer for a continuous period of not less than six days: 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 1060, dated 3-9-1980. 
2   Inserted by G.S.R. 1060, dated 3-9-1980. 
3   Certain words omitted by G.S.R.1542, dated 8-11-1962. 
4   Substituted by G.S.R. 2574, dated 2-8-1954. 
5   Inserted by S.R.O. 2727, dated 11-8-1954. 
6   Substituted by G.S.R. 918, dated 29-7-1960. 
7   Substituted by G.S.R. 918, dated 29-7-1960. 
8   Substituted by G.S.R. 918, dated 29-7-1960. 

 
 
 
 
                            
28 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 23 

Provided further that the employee shall be informed of the day fixed as the 
rest  day  and  of  any  subsequent  change  in  the  rest  day  before  the  change  is 
effected,  by  display  of  a  notice  to  that  effect  in  the  place  of  employment  at  the 
place specified by the Inspector in this behalf. 

Explanation.—For  the  purpose  of  computation  of  the  continuous  period  of 

not less than six days specified in the first proviso to this sub-rule— 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

any day on which an employee is required to attend for work but 
is  given  only  an  allowance  for  attendance  and  is  not  provided 
with work, 1[***] 
any  day  on  which  an  employee  is  laid  off  on  payment  of 
compensation  under  the  Industrial  Disputes  Act,  1947  (14  of 
1947), 2[and 
any  leave  or  holiday,  with  or  without  pay,  granted  by  the 
employer  to  an  employee  in  the  period  of  six  days  immediately 
preceding the rest day], 

shall be deemed to be days on which the employee has worked. 

(2)  Any  such  employee  shall  not  be  required  or  allowed  to  work  in  a 
scheduled employment on the rest day unless he has or will have a substituted 
rest  day  for  a  whole  day  on  one  of  the  five  days  immediately  before  or  after  the 
rest day: 

Provided  that  no  substitution  shall  be  made  which  will  result  in  the 
employee working for more than ten days consecutively without a rest day for a 
whole day. 

(3)  Where  in  accordance  with  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  rule,  any 
employee works on a rest day and has been given a substituted rest day on any 
one of the five days before or after the rest day, the rest day shall, for the purpose 
of  calculating  the  weekly  hours  of  work,  be  included  in  the  week  in  which  the 
substituted rest day occurs. 

(4)  An  employee  shall  be  granted  for  the  rest  day  wages  calculated  at  the 
rate  applicable  to  the  next  preceding  day  and  in  case  he  works  on  the  rest  day 
and has been given a substituted rest day, he shall be paid wages for the rest day 
on which he worked, at the overtime rate and wages for the substituted rest day 
at the rate applicable to the next preceding day: 

Provided  that  where  the  minimum  daily  rate  of  wages  of  the  employee  as 
notified  under  the  Act  has  been  worked  out  by  dividing  the  minimum  monthly 
rate  of  wages  by  twenty-six,  or  where  the  actual  daily  rate  of  wages  of  the 
employee has been worked out by dividing the monthly rate of wages by twenty-
six  and  such  actual  daily  rates  of  wages  is  not  less  than  the  notified  minimum 
daily  rate  of  wages  of  the  employee,  no  wages  for  the  rest  day  shall  be  payable, 
and in case the employee works on the rest day and has been given a substituted 
rest day, he shall be paid only for the rest day on which he worked, an amount 
equal to the wages payable to him at the overtime rate; and if any dispute arises 
whether  the  daily  rate  of  wages  has  been  worked  out  as  aforesaid,  the  Chief 
Labour Commissioner may, on application made to him in this behalf, decide the 
same,  after  giving  an  opportunity  to  the  parties  concerned  to  make  written 
representations: 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 918, dated 29-7-1960. 
2   Inserted by G.S.R. 1324, dated 2-8-1963. 

 
 
                            
Rule 24A 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

29 

Provided  further  that  in  the  case  of  an  employee  governed  by  a  piece  rate 
scheme, the wages for the rest day, or, as the case may be, the rest day, and the 
substituted  rest  day,  shall  be  such  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by 
notification in the Gazette of India, prescribe, having regard to the minimum rate 
of wages fixed under the Act, in respect of the scheduled employment. 

Explanation.—In  this  sub-rule  „next  preceding  day‟  means  the  last  day  on 
which the employee has worked, which precedes the rest day or the substituted 
rest day, as the case may be; and where the substituted rest day falls on a day 
immediately  after  the  rest  day,  the  next  preceding  day  means  the  last  day  on 
which the employee has worked, which precedes the rest day. 

1[***] 
2[(5)]  The  provisions  of  this  rule  shall  not  operate  to  the  prejudice  of  more 
favourable terms, if any, to which an employee may be entitled under any other 
law  or  under  the  terms  of  any  award,  agreement  or  contract  of  service,  and  in 
such  a  case,  the  employee  shall  be  entitled  only  to  the  more  favourable  terms 
aforesaid. 

Explanation.—For  the  purposes  of  this  rule,  „week‟  shall  mean  a  period  of 

seven days beginning at midnight on Saturday night.] 

24.  Number  of  hours  of  work  which  shall  constitute  a  normal  working 
day:-(1) The number of hours which shall constitute a normal working day shall 
be— 

(a) 
(b) 

in the case of an adult, 9 hours; 
in the case of a child, 4 hours. 

(2) The working day of an adult worker shall be so arranged that inclusive of 
the intervals for rest, if any, it shall not spread over more than twelve hours on 
any day. 

(3)  The  number  of  hours  of  work  in  the  case  of  an  adolescent  shall  be  the 
same  as  that  of  an  adult  or  a  child  accordingly  as  he  is  certified  to  work  as  an 
adult  or  a  child  by  a  competent  medical  practitioner  approved  by  the  Central 
Government. 

(4)  The  provisions  of  sub-rules  (1)  to  (3)  shall,  in  the  case  of  workers  in 
agricultural employment, be subject to such modifications as may, from time to 
time, be notified by the Central Government. 

3[(4-A)  No  child  shall  be  employed  or  permitted  to  work  for  more  than  4½ 

hours on any day.] 

(5)  Nothing  in  this  rule  shall  be  deemed  to  affect  the  provisions  of  the 

Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948).  

4[24A. Night Shifts:-Where a worker in a scheduled employment works on a 

shift which extends beyond midnight— 

1   Sub-rule (5) omitted and sub-rule (6) renumbered as sub-rule (5) by G.S.R. 158, dated 

10-1-1979. 

2   Sub-rule (5) omitted and sub-rule (6) renumbered as sub-rule (5) by G.S.R. 158, dated 

10-1-1979. 

3   Inserted by S.R.O. 3304, dated 2-10-1954. 
4   Added by S.R.O. 1932, dated 6-10-1954.   

 
 
 
 
                            
30 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 25 

(a) 

(b) 

a  holiday  for  the  whole  day  for  the  purposes  of  rule  23  shall  in 
his  case  mean  a  period  of  twenty-four  consecutive  hours 
beginning from the time when his shift ends; and 
the following day in such a case shall be deemed to be the period 
of  twenty-four  hours  beginning  from  the  time  when  such  shift 
ends,  and  the  hours  after  midnight  during  which  such  worker 
was engaged in work shall be counted towards the previous day. 

1[25.  Extra  wages  for  overtime:-(1)  When  a  worker  works  in  an 
employment  for  more  than  nine  hours  on  any  day  or  for  more  than  forty-eight 
hours  in  any  week,  he  shall,  in  respect  of  such  overtime  work,  be  entitled  to 
wages at double the “ordinary rate of wages”. 

(a) 

(b) 

in the case of employment in agriculture, at one and a half times 
the ordinary rate of wages; 
in  the  case  of  any  other  scheduled  employment,  at  double  the 
ordinary rate of wages.  

Explanation.—The expression “ordinary rate of wages” means the basic wage 
plus  such  allowances  including  the  cash  equivalent  of  the  advantages  accruing 
through  the  concessional  sale  to  the  person  employed  of  foodgrains  and  other 
articles  as  the  person  employed  is  for  the  time  being  entitled  to  but  does  not 
include a bonus.] 

2[(2) A register of overtime shall be maintained by every employer in Form IV 
in which entries under the columns specified therein shall be made as and when 
overtime is worked in any establishment. The register shall be kept at the work-
spot and maintained uptodate. Where no overtime has been worked in any wage 
period, a „nil‟ entry shall be made across the body of the register at the end of the 
wage  period  indicating  also  in  precise  terms  the  wage  period  to  which  the  „nil‟ 
entry relates]. 

26.  Form  of  registers  and  records:-3[(1)  A  Register  of  Wages  shall  be 

maintained by every employer at the workspot in Form X.] 

4[(1A)  Every  employer  shall,  in  respect  of  each  person  employed  in  the 

establishment, complete the entries pertaining to a wage period— 

(a) 

(b) 

in  columns  1  to  15  of  Form  X,  before  the  date  on  which  the 
wages for such wage period fall due ; 
in  columns  16  and  17  of  the  said  Form,  on  the  date  when 
payment is made, and obtain the signature or thumb impression 
of the employee in column 18 of the said Form on the date when 
payment is made.] 

(2) A Wage Slip in Form XI shall be issued by every employer to every person 

employed by him at least a day prior to the disbursement of wages. 

(3) Every employer shall get the signature or the thumb impression of every 

person employed on the 5[Register of wages] and wage slip. 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 158, dated 10-1-1979. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 1060, dated 3-9-1960 
3   Substituted by G.S.R. 1473, dated 17-9-1966 
4   Substituted by G.S.R. 139, dated 16-1-1974 (w.e.f. 2-2-1974). 
5   Substituted by G.S.R. 721, dated 5-5-1965. 

 
 
 
 
                            
Rule 27 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

31 

(4) Entries in the  1[Register of Wages] and wage slips shall be authenticated 

by the employer or any person authorised by him in this behalf. 

2[(5)  A  muster  roll  shall  be  maintained  by  every  employer  at  the  workspot 
and  kept  in  Form  V  and  the  attendance  of  each  person  employed  in  the 
establishment  shall  be  recorded  daily  in  that  Form  within  3  hours  of  the 
commencement of the work shift or relay for the day, as the case may be.] 

3[***] 

4[26A.  Preservation  of  registers:-  A  register  required  to  be  maintained 
under  rules  21(4),  25(2)  and  26(1)  5[and  the  muster  roll  required  to  be 
maintained under rule 26(5)] shall be preserved for a period of three years after 
the date of last entry made therein.] 

6[26B.  Production  of  registers  and  other  records:-(1)  All  registers  and 
records  required  to  be  maintained  by  an  employer  under  these  rules  shall  be 
produced on demand before the Inspector during the course of inspection of the 
establishment: 

Provided that the Inspector may, if it is necessary, demand the production of 
the registers and records in his office or such other public place as may be nearer 
to the employer; 

(2)  Any  infringement  of  the  provisions  of  the  Act  or  these  rules  noticed  by 
the  Inspector  and  communicated  to  the  employer  during  the  course  of  an 
inspection or otherwise, shall be rectified by the employer and compliance report 
in  respect  thereof  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Inspector,  on  or  before  the  date 
specified by him in this behalf.] 

7[26C.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  these  Rules,  where  a 
combined  (alternative)  form  is  sought  to  be  used  by  the  employer  to  avoid 
duplication  of  work  for  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  any  other  Act  or  the 
Rules framed thereunder, an alternative suitable Form in lieu of any of the Forms 
prescribed  under  these  Rules  may  be  used  with  the  previous  approval  of  the 
8[Central Government.] 

CHAPTER V 
CLAIMS UNDER THE ACT 

27. 9[Applications:-(1) An application under sub-section (2) of section 20 or 
or sub-section (1) of section 21, by or on behalf of an employed person or group 
of  employed  persons  shall  be  made  in  duplicate  in  Forms  VI,  VIA  or  VII,  as  the 
case may be, one copy of which shall bear the prescribed court fee. 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 721, dated 5-5-1965. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 139, dated 16-1-1974 (w.e.f. 2-2-1974). 
3   Sub-rule (6) omitted by G.S.R. 1213, dated 9-7-1963. Earlier sub-rule (6) was inserted 

by G.S.R. 1512, dated 15-12-1961. 
4   Inserted by G.S.R. 1060, dated 3-9-1960 
5   Substituted by G.S.R. 1523, dated 16-12-1960 
6   Substituted by G.S.R. 255, dated 20-2-1967. Earlier rule 26-B inserted by G.S.R. 1523, 

dated 16-12-1960. 

7   Inserted by G.S.R. 1213, dated 9-7-1963.  
8   Substituted by G.S.R. 846, dated 19-7-1984 (w.e.f. 19-7-1984). 
9   Substituted by G.S.R. 1301, dated 28-10-1960 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
32 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Rule 28 

(2) A single application under section 20 read with sub-section (1) of section 
21  may  be  presented  on  behalf  or  in  respect  of  a  group  of  employed  persons,  if 
they  are  borne  on  the  same  establishment  and  their  claim  relates  to  the  same 
wage period or periods.] 

28.  Authorisation:-The  authorisation  to  act  on  behalf  of  an  employed 
person  or  persons,  under  sub-section  (2)  of  section  20  or  of  sub-section  (1)  of 
section 21 shall be given in Form VIII by an instrument which shall be presented 
to the authority hearing the application and shall form part of the record. 

29.  Appearance  of  parties:-(1)  If  an  application  under  sub-section  (2)  of 
section  20  or  section  21  is  entertained,  the  Authority  shall  serve  upon  the 
employer  by  registered  post  a  notice  in  Form  IX  to  appear  before  him  on  a 
specified date with all relevant documents and witnesses, if any, and shall inform 
the applicant of the date as specified. 

(2) If the employer or his representative fails to appear on the specified date, 

the authority may hear and determine the application ex parte. 

(3) If the applicant or his representative fails to appear on the specified date, 

the authority may dismiss the application. 

(4)  An  order  passed  under sub-rule  (2)  or  sub-rule  (3)  may  be  set  aside  on 
sufficient  cause  being  shown  by  the  defaulting  party  within  one  month  of  the 
date of the said order, and the application shall then be reheard after service of 
notice  on  the  opposite  party  of  the  date  fixed  for  re-hearing,  in  the  manner 
specified in sub-rule (1). 

CHAPTER VI 
SCALE OF COSTS IN PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE ACT 

30.  Costs:-(1)  The  authority,  for  reasons  to  be  recorded  in  writing,  may 
direct that the cost of any proceeding pending before it shall not follow the event. 

(2) The costs which may be awarded shall include— 

(i) 
(ii) 
(iii) 

expenses incurred on account of court-fees; 
expenses incurred on subsistence money to witnesses; and 
pleader‟s  fees  to  the  extent  of  ten  rupees  provided  that  the 
authority  in  any  proceeding,  may  reduce  the  fees  to  a  sum  not 
less  than  five  rupees  or  for  reasons  to  be  recorded  in  writing 
increase it to a sum not exceeding twenty-five rupees. 
(3)  Where  there  are  more  than  one  pleader  or  more  than  one  applicant  or 
opponent the authority may, subject as aforesaid, award to the successful party 
or parties such costs as it may deem proper. 

31.  Court  fees:-The  Court  fee  payable  in  respect  of  proceeding  under 

section 20 shall be— 

(i) 

(ii) 

for every application to summon a witness - One rupee in respect 
of each witness; 
for every application made by or on behalf of an individual - One 
rupee; 

 
 
 
 
 
Forms  

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

33 

1[(iii) 

for every application made on behalf or in respect of a number of 
employees  -  One  rupee  per  employee  subject  to  a  maximum  of 
twenty rupees:] 

Provided that the authority may, if in its opinion, the applicant is a pauper, 

exempt him wholly or partly from the payment of such fees : 
Provided further that no fee shall be chargeable,— 

(a) 
(b) 

from persons employed in agriculture; or 
in respect of an application made by an Inspector. 

2[CHAPTER VII 
MISCELLANEOUS 

3[32.  Saving:-These  rules  shall  not  apply  in  relation  to  any  scheduled 
employment in so far as there are in force rules applicable to such employment, 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Central  Government,  make  equally  satisfactory 
provisions  for  the  matters  dealt  with  by  these  rules  and  such  opinion  shall  be 
final.] 
Forms 

FORM I  
[RULE 21(4)] 
Register of Fines 

..............................................EMPLOYER.............................................. 

Serial 
No. 

Name 

Father’s/ 
Husband’s 
name 

Sex 

Department 

Nature and 
date of the 
offence for 
which fine 
imposed 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Rate of 
wages 

Date and 
amount of 
fine imposed 

Date on 
which fine 
realised 

Remarks 

Whether 
workman 
showed cause 
against fine or 
not. If so enter 
date 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

1   Inserted by G.S.R. 1301, dated 28-10-1960. 
2   Inserted by S.R.O. 1276, dated 19-6-1953.  
3   Substituted by S.R.O. 463, dated 12-2-1955.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
34 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Forms  

FORM II 
REGISTER OF DEDUCTIONS FOR DAMAGE OR LOSS CAUSED TO THE 
EMPLOYER, BY THE NEGLECT OR DEFAULT OF THE EMPLOYED PERSONS 
[RULE 21(4)] 
..............................................EMPLOYER.............................................. 

Serial 
No. 

Name 

Father’s/ 
Husband’s 
name 

Sex 

Department 

Damage or 
loss caused 
with date 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Whether worker 
showed cause 
against 
deduction. If so 
enter date 

Date and 
amount of 
deduction 
imposed 

Number of 
instalments if 
any 

Date on 
which total 
amount 
realised 

Remarks 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

1[FORM III 
[RULE 21(4A)] 
ANNUAL RETURNS 

Returns  for  the  year  ending  the  31st 
December  

........................................... 

1. 

(a) 

Name of the establishment and postal address 

................................................................................................................... 

................................................................................................................... 

(b)  

Name and residential address of the owner/contractor  

(c) Name and residential address of 
the  Managing  Agent/  Director/ 
Partner in charge of the day-to-day 
affairs  of  the  establishment  owned 
by  a  company,  body  corporate  or 
Association 

........................................... 

........................................... 

........................................... 

........................................... 

(d) 

Name and residential address of the Manager/Agent, if any 

................................................................................................................... 

................................................................................................................... 

2. 

Number of days worked during the 
year  

........................................... 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 1542, dated 8-11-1962.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
                            
Forms  

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

35 

3. 

14. 

5. 

6. 

Number  of  man-days  worked 
during the year  

........................................... 

Average daily number of persons employed during the year 

(i) 

(ii) 

Adults 

Children 

........................................... 

........................................... 

Total wages paid in cash  

........................................... 

Total  cash  value  of  the  wages  paid 
in kind  

........................................... 

7. 

Deductions:  

........................................... 

No. of cases 

Total 

Rs. 

amount 

np. 

Fines 

Deductions  for  damage  or 

Deductions  for  breach  of 
contract 

Disbursement from fines : 

Purpose 

(a)  

(b)  
loss 

(c)  

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

Rs. 

Amount 

np. 

8. 

Balance of fine fund in hand at the 
end of the year 

Dated ................................ 

Signature 

............................... 

Designation 

1   The average daily number of persons employed during the year as obtained by dividing 
the aggregate number of attendances during the year by the number of working days. 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
                            
36 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Forms  

FORM IV 
OVERTIME REGISTER FOR WORKERS 
[RULE 25(2)] 
MONTH ENDING............. 20.......... 

Name 

Sl. 
No. 

Father’s/ 
Husband’s 
Name 

Sex  Designation 

and 
Department 

Dates on 
which 
overtime 
worked 

Extent of 
overtime 
on each 
occasion 

Total 
overtime 
worked or 
production 
in case of 
piece 
workers 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Normal 
hours 

Normal 
rate 

Over-
time 
rate 

Normal 
earnings 

Overtime 
earnings 

Total 
earnings 

Date on 
which 
overtime 
payment 
made 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

FORM V 
[RULE 26(5)] 
MUSTER ROLL 

Name of Establishment........... 

Place.......................... 

For the period 
ending 

1[Total 
Attendance.]. 

Remarks 

Sl. 
No. 

Name  Father’s/ 
Husband’s 
name 

Sex  Nature 

1  2  3  4  5 

of 
work 

2[FORM VI] 
FORM OF APPLICATION BY AN EMPLOYEE UNDER SECTION 20(2) 

In the Court of the Authority appointed under the Minimum Wages Act, 

for …………………......... area. 
Application No. ………………..of 20………….. 

1948, 

(1)  ...................... …………  Applicant (through a legal practitioner/an  

official of a registered Trade Union), 

Address  

................................................ 

1   Inserted by G.S.R. 139, dated 16-1-1974 (w.e.f. 2-2-1974). 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 1301, dated 28-10-1960.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
Forms  

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

37 

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 

........................................ 
........................................ 
........................................ 
Address.................................. 

Versus 

………………….Opponent(s) 

The applicant abovenamed states as follows: 

(1) 

(2)  

been 

applicant 

employed 
was/has 
The 
from.......to.......as.…….(Category)  in  (establishment)  of  Shri/ 
Messrs  ............……………………………  engaged  in  ...................... 
(Nature  of  work)  which  is  a  scheduled  employment  within  the 
meaning of section 2(g) of the Minimum Wages Act. 
The  opponent(s)  is/are  the  employer(s)  within  the  meaning  of 
section 2(e) of the Minimum Wages Act. 

(4)  

*(c) 

*(b) 

(3) *(a)   The  applicant  has  been  paid  wages  at  less  than  the  minimum 
rate of wages fixed for his category of employment under the Act 
by Rs... per day for the period from ..................to......................; 
The applicant has not been paid wages at Rs...... per day for the 
weekly days of rest from....................to........................; 
The applicant has not  been paid wages at the over-time rate for 
the period from ..........................to...................... 
The applicant estimates the value of relief sought by him on each 
account as under:— 
Rs............... 
(a)  
Rs............... 
(b)  
(c)  
Rs............... 
Total   Rs................... 
The  applicant,  therefore,  prays  that  a  direction  may  be  issued 
under section 20(3) of the Act for: 
*(a) 

(5)  

payment  of  the  difference  between  the  wages  payable 
under  the  Minimum  Wages  Act  and  the  wages  actually 
paid. 
payment of remuneration for the days of rest. 
payment of wages at the overtime rate. 

*(b) 
*(c) 
1[(d) 
The applicant begs leave to amend or add to or make alterations 
in the application, if and when necessary, with the permission of 
the Authority. 
The applicant does solemnly declare that the facts stated in this 
application  are  true  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,  belief  and 
information. 

compensation amounting to Rs......] 

(6)  

(7)  

Date......... 
………………………………………………… 

1   Inserted by G.S.R. 1140, dated 18-9-1961. 

 
 
  
 
 
                            
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Signature or thumb impression of the  
employed person, or legal practitioner  
or official of a Registered Trade  
Union duly authorised.] 

*Delete the portions not required. 

1[FORM VIA] 
FORM OF GROUP APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 21(1) 

In the Court of the Authority appointed under the Minimum Wages Act, 

1948, 

for ......................... area. 

Application No.................... of 20.................................. 

Between A.B.C. and (state the number) ……………………. Others: 

Applicants through a legal practitioner/am official of ………………. which is 

a registered trade Union), 

Address.................................. 

and 

x.y.z. ………………………………… opposite party 
Address …………………………………….. 

The application states as follows:-- 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

*(b) 

*(c) 

(4) 

(categories)  …………… 

The  applicants  whose  names  appear  in  the  attached  schedule 
were/have  been  employed  from  …………………..  to  ……………… 
as  ……………. 
in  …………………….. 
(establishment)  of  Shri/Messrs.  ……..  engaged  in  ………….. 
(nature of work) which is/are scheduled employments) within the 
meaning of section 2(g) of the Minimum Wages Act. 
The  opponent(s)  is/are  the  employer(s)  within  the  meaning  of 
section 2(e) of the Minimum Wages Act. 
*(a)  the  applicants  have  been  paid  wages  at  less  than  the 
minimum  rates  of  wages  fixed  for  their  category  (categories)  of 
employment(s) under the Act by Rs. ………………. per day for the 
period(s) from …………. to …………..  
The applicants have not been paid wages at Rs. …………. per day 
for the weekly days of rest from ……….. to ………… ; 
The applicants have not been paid wages at the overtime rate(s) 
for the period from …………… to ……………  
The  applicants  estimate  the  value  of  relief  sought  by  them  on 
each account as under: 
(a)  
(b)  
(c)  
Total   Rs. ……………… 

Rs........…………… 
Rs........…………… 
Rs........…………… 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 1301, dated 28-10-1960.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
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(5) 

(6)  

(7)  

The  applicants,  therefore,  pray  that  a  direction  may  be  issued 
under section 20(3) of the Act for: 
*(a) 

payment  of  the  difference  between  the  wages  payable 
under  the  Minimum  Wages  Act  and  the  wages  actually 
paid; 
payment of remuneration for the days of rest; 
payment of wages at the overtime rate(s); 

*(b) 
*(c) 
1[(d) 
The  applicants  beg  to  leave  to  amend  or  add  to  or  make 
alterations  in  the  application,  if  and  when  necessary,  with  the 
permission of the Authority. 
The  applicants  do  solemnly  declare  that  the  facts  stated  in  this 
application  are  true  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge,  belief  and 
information. 

compensation amounting to Rs......] 

Date..................  

Signature or thumb impression of the  
employed persons or legal practitioner,  
or official of a Registered Union duly  
authorized.  

2[FORM VII] 
FORM OF APPLICATION BY AN INSPECTOR OR PERSON ACTING 
WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 20(2) 

In the Court of the Authority appointed under the Minimum Wages Act, 

1948, 

for ......................... area. 
Application No.................... of 20.................................. 

(1)   

...............................Applicant 

Address.................................. 

Versus 

(1)   

.............................Opponent(s) 

Address................................... 
The applicant abovenamed states as follows :— 
The opponent(s) has/have 
*(a) 

(1) 

paid  wages  at  less  than  the  minimum  rates  of  wages 
fixed  for  their  category  (categories)  of  employment(s) 
under  the  Act  by  Rs..........  per  day  for  the  period(s) 
from...............to............... 
Not paid wages at Rs........... per day for the weekly days 
of rest from ............ to ............. 
not paid wages at the overtime rate(s) for the period from 
........ to ......... the following employees: 

*(b) 

*(c) 

1   Ins. by the Minimum Wages (Central) (Second Amendment) Rules, 1961. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 1301, dated 28-10-1960.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
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(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

Rs........…………… 
Rs........…………… 
Rs........…………… 

The  applicant  estimates  the  value  of  relief  sought  for  the 
employees on each account as under 
(a)  
(b)  
(c)  
Total   Rs. ……………… 
The  applicant,  therefore,  prays  that  a  creation  may  be  issued 
under section 20(3) of the Act for : 
*(a) 

payment  of  the  difference  between  the  wages  payable 
under  the  Minimum  Wages  Act  and  the  wages  actually 
paid; 
payment of remuneration for the days of rest; 
payment of wages at the overtime rate; 

*(b) 
*(c) 
1[(d) 
The applicant begs leave to amend or add to or make alterations 
in  the  application  if  and  when necessary  with  the permission  of 
the Authority. 
The applicant does solemnly declare that the facts stated in this 
application  are  true  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,  belief  and 
information. 

compensation amounting to Rs......] 

Date..................  
*Delete the portions not required. 

Signature……………..] 

FORM VIII 
FORM OF AUTHORITY IN FAVOUR OF A LEGAL PRACTITIONER OR ANY 
OFFICIAL OF A REGISTERED TRADE UNION REFERRED TO IN SECTION 
20(2) 

In the Court of the Authority appointed under the Minimum Wages Act, 

1948 

for................................................Area 
Application No..........................................of 20..........… 

(1)................... 
(2) 
(3) 

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 

.........................Applicant(s) 

Versus 

.............................Opponent(s) 

I hereby authorise Mr.................................. a legal practitioner/an official of 
the registered trade union of ............................................. to appear and act on 
my  behalf  in  the  above  described  proceeding  and  to  do  all  things  incidental  to 
such appearing and acting. 

1   Inserted by G.S.R. 1140, dated 18-9-1961. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
                            
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Date........... 

……………………………….……….. 
Signature or thumb impression  
of the employee. 

FORM IX 
FORM OF SUMMONS TO THE OPPONENT TO APPEAR BEFORE THE 
AUTHORITY WHEN AN APPLICATION UNDER SUB-SECTION (2) OF SECTION 
20 OR UNDER SECTION 21 IS ENTERTAINED 

To  

(Title of the application) 
............................................................................................................. 
(Name, description and place of residence.) 

Whereas  .............................................has  made  the  abovesaid  application 
to me under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, you are hereby summoned to appear 
before me in person or by a duly authorised agent and able to answer all material 
questions  relating  to  the  application,  or  who  shall  be  accompanied  by  some 
person able to answer all such questions, on the...........………………………..day of 
20..................at..................O‟clock  in  the.............................noon,  to  answer  the 
claim; and as the day fixed for the appearance is appointed for the final disposal 
of the application you must be prepared to produce on that day all the witnesses 
upon  whose  evidence  and  all  the  documents  upon  which  you  intend  to  rely  in 
support of your defence. 

Take notice that in default of your appearance on the day before mentioned, 

the application will be heard and determined in your absence. 

Date........... 

……………… 
Signature 

*When the application is by a group of employees, the thump-impressions or 
signatures of two of the applicants need be put to the application and a full list of 
applicants should be attached to the application. 

1[FORM IX-A 
(RULE 22) 
NOTICE 
2[ABSTRACTS OF] THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948 AND THE RULES MADE 
THEREUNDER 

I. Whom the Act affects 
1.  (a)  The  Act  applies  to  persons  engaged  in  scheduled  employments  or  in 

specified class of work in respect of which minimum wages have been fixed. 

(b) No employee can give up by contract or agreement his rights in so far as 

it purports to reduce the minimum rates of wages fixed under the Act. 

II. Definition of wages. 

(1)  

“Wages” means all remuneration payable to an employed person 
on  the  fulfillment  of  his  contract  of  employment  3[and  includes 
house rent allowance].It excludes- 

1   Inserted by S.R.O. 2727, dated 11-8-1954. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, Dated 14-1-1959.  
3   Added by G.S.R. 109, Dated 14-1-1959.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
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The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

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(i) 

(ii) 

(iv) 

(iii) 

the  value  of  any  house-accommodation,  supply  of  light, 
water,  medical  attendance  or  any  other  amenity  or  any 
service  extended  by  general  or  special  order  of  the 
appropriate Government; 
contribution  paid  by  the  employer  to  any  Pension  Fund 
or  Provident  Fund  or  under  any  scheme  of  Social 
Insurance; 
the  traveling  allowance  or  the  value  of  any  traveling 
concession; 
the  sum  paid  to  the  person  employed  to  defray  special 
expenses entailed by him by nature of his employment;  
(v) 
gratuity payable on discharge. 
The minimum rate of wages may consist of— 
(i) 
(ii) 

a basic rate of a wages may consist of— 
a  basic  rate  of  wages  with  or  without  a  cost  of  living 
allowance  and  the  cash  value  of  any  concessions,  like 
supplies  of  essential  commodities  at  concession  rates; 
and 
an all-inclusive rate comprising basic rate, cost of living 
allowance and cash value of concessions, if any. 
The  minimum  wages  payable  to  employees  of  scheduled 
employments, notified under section 5, read with section 3 or as 
revised from time to time under section 10, read with section 3, 
may be- 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 

a minimum time rate; 
a minimum piece rate; 
a guaranteed time rate; 
an overtime rate; 

(iii) 

(2)  

(3)  

differing  with  (1)  different  scheduled  employments,  (2)  different  classes  of 
work,  (3)  different  localities,  (4)  different  wage-periods,  and  (5)  different  age 
groups. 

III. Computation and conditions of payment 

1.  

2.  

3.  

4.  

The employer shall pay to every employee engaged in scheduled 
employment  under  him  wages  at  a  rate  not  less  than  the 
minimum rate of wages fixed for that class of employee. 
The minimum wages payable under this Act shall be paid in cash 
unless the Government authorizes payment thereof either wholly 
or partly in kind. 
Wage-period shall be fixed for the payment of wages at intervals 
not exceeding one month 1[or such other larger period as may be 
prescribed]. 
Wages  shall  be  paid  on  a  working  day  within  seven  days  of  the 
end  of  the  wage-period  or  within  ten  days  if  1,000  or  more 
persons are employed. 

1   Added by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959.  

 
 
 
                            
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5.  

6.  

7.  

8.  

The wages of a person discharged shall be paid not later than the 
second working day after his discharge.  
If an employee is employed on any day for a period less than the 
normal working day, they shall be entitled to receive wages for a 
full  normal  working  day  provided  his  failure  to  work  is  not 
caused  by  his  unwillingness  to  work  but  by  the  commission  of 
the employer to provide him with work for that period.  
Where an employee does two or more classes of work to each of 
which  a  different  minimum  rate  of  wages  is  applicable,  the 
employer  shall  pay  to  such  employee  in  respect  of  the  time 
respectively  occupied  in  each  such  class  of  work,  wages  at  not 
less  than  the  minimum  rate  in  force  in  respect  of  each  such 
class. 
Where  an  employee  is  employed  on  piece-work  for  which 
minimum  time  rate  and  not  a  minimum  piece-rate  has  been 
fixed, the employer shall pay to such employee wages at not less 
than the minimum time rate. 

IV. Hours of work and holidays 

1.  

2. 

3. 

in the case of an adult, 9 hours, 
in the case of a child, 4 ½ hours. 

The number of hours which shall constitute to a normal working 
day shall be- 
(a) 
(b) 
The  working  day  of  an adult  worker  inclusive  of  the  intervals  of 
rest shall not exceed twelve hours on any day. 
1[The  employer  shall  allow  a  day  of  rest  with  wages  to  the 
employees every week. ordinarily, Sunday will be the weekly day 
of rest, but any other day of the week may be fixed as such rest, 
day. No employee shall be required to work on a day fixed as rest 
day,  unless  he  is  paid  wages  for  that  day  at  the  overtime  rate 
and  is  also  allowed  a  substituted  rest  day  with  wages  (see  rule 
23).]   

  When  a  worker  works  in  an  employment  for  more  than  nine  hours  on 
any  day  or  for  more  than  forty-eight  hours  in  any  week,  he  shall  in  respect  to 
overtime  worke4d  be  entitled  to  wages  in  scheduled  employment  other  than 
agriculture, at double the ordinary rate of wages. 

V. Fines and deductions 
No.  deductions  shall  be  made  from  wages  except  those  authorized  by  or 

under the rules. 

Deductions  from  the  wages  shall  be  one  or  more  of  the  following  kinds, 

namely:- 

(i) 

Fines:  An  employed  person  shall  be  explained  personally  and 
also in writing the act or omission in respect of which the fine is 
proposed  to  be  imposed  and  given  an  opportunity  to  offer  any 
explanation  in  the  presence  of  another  person.  The  amount  of 
the said fine shall also be intimated to him. [It shall be subject to 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 918, dated 29-7-1960.  

 
 
 
 
                            
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The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

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such  limits  as  may  be  specified  in  this  behalf  by  the  Central 
Government].  It  shall  be  utilized  in  accordance  with  the 
directions of the Central Government; 
deductions for absence from duty;  
deductions  for  damages  to  or  loss  of  goods  entrusted  to  the 
employee  for  custody,  or  for  loss  of  money  for  which  he  is 
required  to  account,  where  such  damage  or  loss  is  directly 
attributable to his neglect or default. The employed person shall 
be explained personally, and also in writing the damage or loss, 
in  respect  of  which  the  deduction  is  proposed  to  be  made  and 
given an opportunity to offer any explanation in the  presence of 
another person. The amount of the said deduction shall also be 
intimated  to  him.  1[It  shall  be  subject  to  such  limits  as  may  be 
specified in this behalf by the Central Government];      
deductions for house accommodations supplied by the employer 
2[or  by  a  State  Government  or  any  authority  constituted  by  a 
State for providing house accommodation];  
deductions  for  such  amenities  and  services  supplied  by  the 
employer  as  the  Central  Government  may  by  general  or  special 
order  authorise.  These  will  not  include  the  supply  of  tools  and 
protectives required for the purposes of employment.  
deductions  for  recovery  of  advances  or  for  adjustment  of  over-
payment  of  wages;  such  advances  shall  not  exceed  an  amount 
equal to wages for two calendar months of the employed person 
and  the  monthly  instalment  of  deduction  shall  not  exceed  one-
fourth of the wages earned in that month; 
deductions of income-tax payable by the employed person; 
deductions  required  to  be  made  by  order  of  a  Court  or  other 
competent authority; 
deductions  for  subscription  to  and  for  repayment  of  advances 
from any provident fund;  
deductions for payment to  co-operative societies  4[or deductions 
for recovery of loans advanced by an employer from out of a fund 
maintained for the purpose by the employer and approved in this 
behalf by the Central Government] or deductions made with the 
written authorization of the person employed, for payment of any 
premium  on  his  life  insurance  policy  to  the  Life  Insurance 
Corporation  of  India  established  under  the  Life  Insurance  Act, 
1956 (31 of 1956);]  
deductions  for  recovery  or  adjustment  of  amount  other  than 
wages, paid to the employed person in error or in excess of what 
is due to him;  

(ii) 
(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 

(vii) 
(viii) 

(ix) 

3[(x) 

(xi) 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962.  
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 
3   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 
4   Inserted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962.  

 
 
 
                            
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Provided that prior approval of the Inspector or any other officer authorized 
by  the  Central  Government  in  this  behalf  obtained  in writing  before making  the 
deductions, unless the employee gives his consent in writing to such deduction; 

1[(xii) 

[deductions made with the written authorization of the employed 
person  which  may  be  given  once  generally  and  not  necessarily 
every time a deduction is made) for the purchase of securities of 
the Government of India or of any State Government or for being 
deposited  in  any  post  office  savings  bank  in  furtherance  of  any 
savings scheme of any such Government.   

Every  employer  shall  send  annually  return  in  Form  III  showing  the 
deductions  from  swages  so  as  to  reach  the  Inspector  not  later  than  the  1st  of 
February following the end of the year to which it relates.]  

VI. Maintenance of registers and records 
Every employer  2[shall maintain at the work-spot a register of wages in the 
form prescribed] specifying the following particulars for each period in respect of 
each employed person:  

(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 

the minimum rates of wages payable; 
the number of days in which overtime was worked; 
the gross wages; 
all deductions made from wages; 
the wages actually paid and the date of payment. 

Every  employer  shall  issue  wage-slips  3[in  the  form  prescribed]  containing 

prescribed particulars to every person employed.]  

Every  employer  shall  get  the  signature  or  the  thumb-impression  of  every 

person employed on the wage-book and wage-slips. 

Entries in the wage-book and wage-slips shall be properly authenticated by 

the employer or his agent. 

4[A  muster-roll,  register  of  fines,  register  of  deductions  for  damage  or  loss 
and register of overtime shall be maintained by every employer at the work-spot 
in the form prescribed.]  

5[Every employer shall keep exhibited at main entrance to the establishment 
and its office notice in English and the language understood by a majority of the 
workers of the following particulars in clean and legible form; 

(a) 

(b) 
(c) 

minimum rate of wages; 
6[abstracts of] the Acts and the rules made thereunder; 
name and address of the Inspector. 

7[Register  of  wages,  muster-roll,  register  of  fines,  register  of  deductions  for 
damage  or  loss  and  register  of  overtime  shall  be  preserved  for  a  period  of  three 
years after the date of last entry made therein. 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962.  
3   Inserted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962.  
4   Substituted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962. 
5   Substituted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962. 
6   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 
7   Inserted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962.  

 
 
 
 
                            
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All  registers  and  records  required  to  be  maintained  by  an  employer  under 
the rules shall be produced on demand before the Inspector provided that where 
an establishment has been closed, the Inspector may demand the production of 
the registers and records in his office or such other public place as may be nearer 
to employers.]   

VII. Inspectors 
An  Inspector  can  enter  in  any  premises  and  can  exercise  the  powers  of 
inspection  (including  examination  of  documents  and  taking  of  evidence)  as  he 
may deem necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 

VIII. Claims of complaints 

1.  

2.  

3.  

4.  

5.  

Where  an  employee  is  paid  less  than  the  minimum  rates  of 
wages fixed for his class of work or less than the amount due to 
him under the provisions of this Act, he can make an application 
in  the  prescribed  form  within  six  months  to  the  authority 
appointed  for  the  purpose.  An  application  delayed  beyond  the 
period  may  be  admitted  if  the  authority  is  satisfied  that  the 
applicant  had  sufficient  cause  for  not  making  the  application 
within such period. 
Any  legal  practitioner,  official  of  a  registered  trade  union, 
Inspector  under  the  Act    or  other  person  acting  with  the 
permission of the authority can make the complaint on behalf of 
an employed person.  
1[A single application may be presented on behalf or in respect of 
a  group  of  employed  persons  whose  wages  has  been  delayed,  if 
they are borne on the same establishment and their claim relates 
to the same wage-period or periods.]    
2[A  complaint  under  section  22(a)  relating  to  payment  of  less 
than the minimum rates of wages or less than the amount due to 
an employee under the provisions of the Act can be made to the 
Court  only  after  an  application 
facts 
constituting  the  offence  has  been  presented  under  section  20 
and  has  been  granted  wholly  or  in  part,  and  the  appropriate 
Government  or  an  officer  authorized  by  it  in  this  behalf  has 
sanctioned the making of the complaint.] 
A  complaint  under  section  22(b)  or  section  22(a)  regarding 
contravention  of  the  provisions  relating  to  hours  of  work  and 
weekly  day  of  rest  or  other  miscellaneous  offences  relating  to 
maintenance  of  registers  submission,  of  returns,  submission  of 
returns, etc., can be made to the Court by or with the sanction of 
an Inspector. The time-limits for making such complaints is one 
month from the date of grant of sanction by the Inspector, in the 
case of offences falling under section 22(b) and six months from 
the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed, 
in the case of offences falling under section 22(a). 

in  respect  of  the 

IX. Action by the authority 

1   Inserted by G.S.R. 213, dated 7-2-1962.  
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 

 
 
 
 
 
                            
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1. 

2.  

3.  

The  authority  may  direct  the  payment  of  the  amount  by  which 
the  minimum  wages  payable  exceed  the  amount  actually  paid 
together  with  the  payment  of  compensation  not  exceeding  ten 
times  the  amount  of  such  excess.  The  Authority  may  direct 
payment  of  compensation  in  cases  where  the  excess  is  paid 
before the disposal of the application.  
If  malicious  or  vexatious  complaint  is  made,  the  authority  may 
impose  a  penalty  not  exceeding  Rs.  50  on  the  applicant  and 
order that it be paid to the employer. 
Every direction of the authority shall be final. 

1[X. Penalties for offences under the Act. 

1.  

2. 

3.  

Any  employer  who  pays  to  any  employee  less  than  the  amount 
due to him under the provisions of this Act or infringes any order 
or rules in respect of normal working day, weekly holidays shall 
be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term 
which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend 
to five hundred rupees or with both.   
2[Any  employer  who  contravenes  any  provision  of  the  Act  or  of 
any  rule  or  order  made  thereunder  shall,  if  no  other  penalty  is 
provided  of  such  contravention  by  the  Act,  be  punishable  with 
fine  which  may  extend  to  five  hundred  rupees.  If  the  person 
committing any offence under the Act is a company, every person 
who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and 
was responsible to, the company in the conduct of the business 
of  the  company  as  well  as  the  company  shall  be  deemed  to  be 
guilty  of  the  offence  and  shall  be  liable  to  be  proceeded  against 
and  punished  accordingly.  No  such  person  will  be  liable  to 
punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without 
his  knowledge  or  that  he  exercised  all  due  diligence  to  prevent 
the commission of such offence.  
Any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company 
with  whose  consent  or  connivance  an  offence  has  been 
committed is liable to be proceeded against and punished under 
the Act. 

Notes-  (a)  “Company”  means  any  body  corporate  and  includes  a  firm  or 

other association of individuals. 

(b “Director” in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.] 

XI. Minimum rates of wages fixed 
Name of undertaking…….. 

Serial No. 

Category of employees 

Minimum wages 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 109, dated 14-1-1959. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
48 

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

Forms  

XII. Name and address of the Inspector(s) 

Name 

Address 

1[FORM X 
[RULE 26(1)] 
REGISTER OF WAGES 

Name of Establishment................. 
Wages 
period 
from...............................................to.....................................Place.......................
........ 

Minimum rates of 
wages payable 

Rates of wages 
actually Paid 

Deductions of wages 

Basic 

D.A 

Basic 

D.A 

Sr. No.   
Name of the employee 
Father‟s/Husband‟s name 
Designation 
Total attendance units of work done 
Overtime worked 
Gross wages payable 
Employee‟s contribution to P.F. 
H.R. 
Other deductions 
Total deductions 
Wages paid 
Date of payment 
Signature or Thumb-Impression of employee 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

2[FORM XI 
[RULE 26(2)] 
WAGE SLIP 

Name of the establishment ................. 
Place.................................. 

1   Substituted by G.S.R. 1473, dated 17-9-1966. 
2   Substituted by G.S.R. 1473, dated 17-9-1966. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            
Forms  

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950 

49 

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 

Name of the employee with father‟s/husband‟s name 
Designation 
Wages Period. 
Rate of wages payable: 
Basic 
(a) 
(b) 
D.A. 
Total attendance units of work done 
Overtime wages. 
Gross wages payable 
Total deductions 
Net wages paid. 

………………………….. 
Pay in-charge 

………………………………………………… 
Employee‟s signature/thumb impression]. 

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