Minimum Wages-A comparative study

Kerala V/s Tamil Nadu

Avin Jose[21088] Derin Elsa Idiculla [210 ]

Minimum Wages India

Legislative protection for workers to receive a minimum wage, can be considered as the hall mark of any progressive nation. It is one of the fundamental premises of decent work. In India, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 provides for fixation and enforcement of minimum wages in respect of scheduled employments The Act aims to prevent sweating or exploitation of labour ( According to the NSSO (2004-05) 61st round, around 395 million workers (86%) out of the total workforce of around 457 million workers constitute the unorganized/informal sector. In fact 7% of those employed in organized sector has been identified as informal workers raising the toll of informal sector to 422 million (92%) through payment of low wages by ensuring a minimum subsistence wage for workers. The Act also requires the appropriate government (both at Centre and States) to fix minimum rates of wages in respect of employments specified in the schedule and also review and revise the same at intervals not exceeding five years. Currently, the number of scheduled employments in the Central sphere is 45 whereas in the States sphere the number is 1596 (when all states are counted). With effect from November 2009, the National Floor Level of Minimum Wage has been increased to Rs 100 per day from Rs 80 per day (which was in effect since 2007). Recently with effect from April 1, 2011 the National Floor Level of Minimum Wage has been raised to Rs 115 per day. Since the respective state governments have been empowered to independently fix minimum wages, disparities between wages in neighbouring states are common. In order to reduce this problem and bring comparability the Central government has set up 5 regional committees (table below)2 for harmonization of minimum wages. Table: 5 Regional Committees in India Current Minimum Wages Region Eastern (6) North States/UTs covered Region West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,

Region (8)

Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.

Southern Region Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and (6) Northern Region (9) Western (6) Lakshadweep. Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Chandigarh. Region Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Delhi and

Number of minimum wage/s, exists in India There exists more than one minimum wages in India. As per Section 2 of the Act and Section27, 28 it is mentioned that State as well as Centre has the power to form Minimum Wage rates Levels at which minimum wage determined In India, minimum wages are declared at national, regional, sectoral and occupational or skill level. As per Section 3 of the Act minimum rates of wages may be fixed at national & state level. Also, Section 3 (3) of the Act specifies that minimum rates of wages may be fixed for different skills and occupations Basis on which minimum wage/s declared Minimum wages in India is declared on daily, hourly, and monthly basis. As per section 3 (b) of the Act defines that Minimum Wages are as per the piece rate, hour rate, and monthly rate as well In case of daily/weekly/monthly minimum wage, are number of working hours considered while fixing minimum wages As per Section3 (14) (b) of the Act there has not been any specific time period. But may be in accordance to the period fixed under section 4 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (4 of 1936)

Who all are involved in setting minimum wages As per Section 9 of the Act uprating are based on decision jointly made by the Government, employer and trade union representatives The components of minimum wages in India Minimum wages in India has both fixed and variable component. Section 4 mentions that minimum wages may be inclusive of basic pay and with special allowance on which it is based. How frequently is the fixed component of minimum wages updated Fixed component of minimum wages are updated in more than 2 years. Section 3 of the Act mentions that the period for revision of fixed component of minimum wages can be anywhere within 5 years of its fixation. How frequently is the variable component of minimum wage updated variable component of minimum wages are updated at irregular time lags. Section 4 of the Act mentions that the special allowance rate should be adjusted at such intervals and in such manner as the appropriate government may direct The yardsticks on which minimum wage revisions are based Section 4 of the Act mentions that Minimum wages are based on basic wages and cost of living index. The yardsticks on which minimum wage is revised are: (a) Three consumption units per earner, (b) Minimum food requirement of 2700 calories per average Indian adult, ( c ) Cloth requirement of 72 yards per annum per family, (d) Rent corresponding to the minimum area provided under the Government's Industrial Housing Scheme (e) Fuel, lighting and other miscellaneous items of expenditure to constitute 20 % of the total Minimum Wages (f) Children education, medical requirement, minimum recreation including festivals/ceremonies and provision for old age, marriage etc. should further constitute 25% of the total Minimum Wage. The national poverty line (In national currency) The national poverty line is Rs. 356.30 in rural areas and Rs. 538.60 in urban areas, per capita per month as updated by all-India poverty lines 2004-05

The percentage of minimum wage relative to the current poverty line The percentage of minimum wage relative to the current poverty line is 581.65% (100*26/447*100). National Floor level of minimum wage (Rs 100 per person per day) has been used to calculate this figure. In order to derive monthly minimum wage, Minimum Wage rate is multiplied by 26 (number of work days in a month). National poverty line is calculated by taking an average of the rural and urban poverty line (Rs 447 per person per month). To whom/where can individuals complain, if they think they are earning less than minimum wages. In case individuals earn less than specified minimum wages, they can complain to Labour Inspectorate coordinates or Trade Union Coordinates. As per section 19 of Minimum Wages Act, 1948, government may appoint such person as it thinks fit to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act. As per section 20 (2) of Minimum Wages Act, 1948 it mention that employee can make complain in writing by himself or through any legal practitioner or any official of a registered trade union authorised to act on his behalf or any Inspector or any person acting with the permission of the authority Probationers entitlement to Minimum Wage By and large, whenever a person joins a new employment, he/she is placed on probation for a certain period and the employer is entitled to terminate or dispense the services of probationer during or at the end of such probation period. Considering this, many-a-times it is enquired whether a probationer is entitled to minimum wages. Here, the probationer although not being a permanent employee performs same work as a regular employee and no such distinction has been made under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and thus he is entitled to minimum wages. Furthermore, a pregnant lady on probation is entitled to maternity benefits as per the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. Where such advanced benefits are extended to probationers then minimum wage is a basic entitlement.

Minimum Wages
The Constitution of India envisages a just and humane society and accordingly gives place to the concept of living wage in the chapter on Directive Principles of State Policy. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is based on Article 43 of the Constitution of India which states that, "The State shall endeavour to secure by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage (emphasis added) conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural Opportunities. The term 'Labour' is included in the 'concurrent list' of the Constitution which provides for labour legislation both by the central and the state governments. Labour laws for most workers in the informal sector are enforced by the state governments, while that for contractors and casual workers in establishments is regulated by the central government. All labour laws enacted by the central government directly or indirectly influence wage level and structure of wages in the informal sector. Table 1 gives a list of legislations that have a direct influence on wages in the informal sector. Table 1: Labour legislations influencing wages in the informal sector in India

Labour legislation The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 The Trade Unions Act, 1926 The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 The Equal Remunerations Act, 1976 The Payment of Wages Act, 1936 The Contract Labours (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970

Type of intervention To provide minimum compensation for work. Workers in scheduled employment to be paid minimum wage. To enable workers of a number of small units to form unions, who can bargain wages and other condition of work. To enable unions to raise industrial disputes on wages and the conciliation machinery to intervene. Assure equal wage to women for same or similar work. To regulate the manner of payment of wages and their realisation in case of non-payment. The contractor is required to pay wages and in case of failure on the part of the contractor to pay wages either in part or in full, the Principal Employer is liable to pay the same.

Minimum wage legislation is the main labour legislation for the workers in unorganized sector. In India, the policy on wage determination had been to fix minimum wages in sweating employments and to promote fair wage agreements in the more organised industries. Wages in the organised sector are determined through negotiations and settlements between employer and employees. On the other hand, in unorganised sector, where labour is vulnerable to exploitation due to illiteracy and does not have effective bargaining power, the intervention of the government becomes necessary. The Minimum Wage Act, 1948 provides for fixation and enforcement of minimum wages in respect of schedule employments to prevent sweating or exploitation of labour through payment of low wages. The objective of the Act is to ensure a minimum subsistence wage for workers. The Act requires the appropriate government to fix minimum rates of wages in respect of employment specified in the schedule and review and revise the minimum rates of wages at intervals not exceeding five years. Once a minimum wage is fixed according to the provisions of the Act, it is not open to the employer to plead his inability to pay the said wages to his employees. The minimum wage rate may be fixed at a) time rate, b) piece rate, c) guaranteed time rate and d) overtime rate. The Act provides that different minimum wage rate may be fixed for a) different scheduled employments, b) different works in the same employment, c) adult, adolescent and children, d) different locations or e) male and female. Also, such minimum wage may be fixed by a) an hour, b) day, c) month, or d) any other period as may be prescribed by the notified authority. In order to protect the minimum wages against inflation, the concept of linking it to the rise in the consumer price index was recommended at the labour ministers' conference in 1988. Since then, the concept of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA)5 linked to consumer price index has been introduced. The VDA is revised twice a year in April and October. While the Centre has already made provision in respect of all scheduled employments in the central sphere, 22 states and Union Territories have adopted VDA as a component of minimum wage.

Norms for fixing minimum wages

The fixation of minimum wage in India, depends upon various factors like socioeconomic and agro-climatic conditions, prices of essential commodities, paying capacity and the local factors influencing the wage rate. It is for this reason that the minimum wages vary across the country. In the absence of any criteria stipulated for fixing the minimum wage in the Minimum Wages Act, the Indian Labour Conference in 1957 had said that the following norms should be taken into account while fixing the minimum wage. The norms for fixing minimum wage rate are (a) three consumption units per earner, (b) minimum food requirement of 2700 calories per average Indian adult, (c) cloth requirement of 72 yards per annum per family, (d) rent corresponding to the minimum area provided under the government's Industrial Housing Scheme and (e) fuel, lighting and other miscellaneous items of expenditure to constitute 20 per cent of the total minimum wage (f) Fuel, lighting and other miscellaneous items of expenditure to constitute 20% of the total Minimum Wages, (g) children education, medical requirement, minimum recreation including festivals/ceremonies and provision for old age,

marriage etc. should further constitute 25% of the total minimum wage. In September 2007, the national minimum floor level wage was increased to Rs 80 per day for all scheduled employments from Rs 66 in 2004 to Rs. 45 in 1999, Rs. 40 in 1998 and Rs. 35 in 1996.

Issues in Wage Policy

Minimum wages are expected to cover the essential current costs of

accommodation, food and clothing of a small family. The Minimum Wage Act, while being very progressive has led to specific problems. Doubts have been raised on the existence of a clear and coherent wage policy in India particularly in unorganized sector. This is mainly due to its poor norms of fixation, enforcement, implementation and coverage in various parts of the country. Some of the issues and concerns faced in India regarding minimum wages are summarized below:

a. Norms for fixing minim wages The Act does not set out a minimum wage in rupee terms, but just stipulates that the wage be a living wage8 which is to be decided by labour department in each state. Certain norms have been laid out including that of calorie requirements, yards of cloth per family and so on. The Act also stipulates that minimum wage rates are to be revised keeping in mind inflation. Additionally, the guidelines laid down for the minimum wage by the 15th Indian Labour Conference (ILC) and the Supreme Court suggest that a minimum wage for 8 hours of work should be high enough to cover all the basic needs of the worker, his/her spouse and two children. However, in many states while fixing the minimum wages, they are not linked to the payment of dearness allowance. As a result, real wages of workers keep eroding due to inflation, pushing them below the poverty line. Another inadequacy is that though the MWA requires wages to be revised every five years, this rarely happens. The MWA also has a clause which states that if wages are not revised, the existing wages should continue. Such an arrangement has only led to greater laziness and unaccountability on the part of state labour departments, leaving some workers to live below poverty line. Further to overcome these inadequacies, the National Commission on Rural Labour in 1990, recommended that the MWA should be amended to compel timely revision of wages and it should be linked to VDA. It should also ensure enhancement of wages every six months on the basis of the Consumer Price Index. How far the amendment has been implemented in states is unknown. (For example, states like Rajasthan, Orissa etc. do not have provision for VDA). Different wages are fixed for the same work in different sectors. For instance, a watchman in the shop or commercial establishment may be fixed higher or lower wages than a watchman in the plastic industry or in a construction or maintenance of roads or building operations, though a watchmans job will be the same wherever he may work. To overcome these deficiencies, several states like Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, etc., have rationalised all the different occupation categories into just four categories - unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly-skilled. As per this system, only one notification is applicable to all industries, rather than the time-consuming system of notifying wages individually for various industries. Though

the system gives a clear and detailed information of minimum wages, it has not been adopted by all states, including the Indian Labour Ministry website, which gives the minimum rate of wage (that is wages for unskilled workers) for each occupation. b. Coverage In order to have minimum wage fixed, the employment or industrial activity has to be included in the schedule of Employments. Currently the number of scheduled employments in the Central government is 45 whereas in the state sphere the number is 1232. he criterion for inclusion in the list of scheduled employment is that there should be at least 1000 workers engaged in that activity in the state. Thus, many activities are excluded from the list. This criterion for inclusion has left a very large number of workers in the unorganised sector outside the purview of the Minimum Wage Act. c. Implementation The main problem of minimum wage legislation in India is its poor implementation. The Act empowers the appropriate government (Central, State or Local) to fix a minimum wage for workers in unorganised sectors. However, often exemptions from the payment of minimum wages have been granted to industries. In addition, minimum wage levels have been revised only at long intervals (where the actual prescribed limit is within 5 years). Such a failure in implementation of MWA is not only due to loopholes in policy design but is also an outcome of lapses in the administration. Poor implementation of MWA does not affect organised workers as much as it does to workers in unorganized sectors. Unorganised workers are employed with millions of employers (generally small trade, enterprise, sole proprietor or household) who are scattered and hence becomes difficult to cover them under law. This diversity in locations and nature of work has left them vulnerable to exploitation in the absence of a broad legal standard. Also, many workers for the fear of losing their jobs do not report about payments lower than the minimum wage rate. At times, these workers are even forced by their employers to certify payments below minimum wages. d. Enforcement

Poor enforcement of the Act is another issue prevalent in most of the states in India. The issue arises mainly due to lack of awareness amongst the workers about minimum wage provisions and their entitlement under the labour laws. Surveys have shown that almost 80 per cent of the workers in unorganized sector earn less than 20 rupees a day or less than half the government-stipulated rural minimum wage of 49 rupees a day and urban wage of 67 rupees9. This is particularly true in remote areas and in areas where workers are not unionized or otherwise organised. As a result their wages have long since failed to keep pace with rising costs and continue to diminish in real value over time.

Comparative study of Minimum Wages between Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Minimum Wages in Kerala

Kerala: Revised Minimum Wages updated on March 5, 2011

Sr. Scheduled Employment No. 1 Agricultural Operation

Category of Workers for Light Work for Hard Work Unskilled

Minimum Wages 150 200 96.23 100.54 102.69 107 3 1.75 93.65 85.19 87.3 80.96 135 150 159 85.2 87.6 90 180

V.D.A No Provision 49.52 49.52 49.52 49.52 0 0 47.93 47.93 47.93 47.93 21.32 21.32 21.32 114.76 114.76 114.76 18.36

Total Notification Wages Date 150 200 145.75 150.06 152.21 156.52 3 1.75 141.58 133.12 135.23 128.89 156.32 171.32 180.32 199.96 202.36 204.76 198.36 1st Feb 2011 28th Dec 2009 10th Aug 2009 10th Aug 2009

Ayurvedic and Allopathic Semi-skilled Medicines Skilled Highly skilled Piece rate wages exists (for Plucking Per Bunch of Nuts) Piece rate wages exists (for Spraying Per Tree) Grade (1)

Arecanut Tree Climbing

Beedi and Cigar Industry

Grade (2) Grade (2)(A) Grade (3) Unskilled

Block Rubber Factories

Semi-skilled Skilled Unskilled

Brick Manufacturies

Semi-skilled Skilled

Cashew Industry

Lowest Rate

Highest Rate Clear felling, Collectors of rawnut 8 Cashew Plantation (a) Collecting nut from trees (Per Kg) (b) Collecting nuts from the ground (Per Kg) 9 Coconut Tree Climbing Piece rate wages exists (Per Tree)

250 150

18.36 0

268.36 150 10th Aug 2009

5.6 2.8 4 112.46 142.62 164.18

0 0 0 67.39 67.39 67.39

5.6 2.8 4 179.85 210.01 231.57

10th Aug 2009

Unskilled Construction, 10 maintenance of Semi-skilled roads,building operations Skilled 11 Coir Manufacturing Piece rate wages exists Unskilled 12 Cinema Theatres Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Category D Category C Category B Category A 13 Dairy Farming Milking (twice daily) Milking (twice along with other works in Dairy) Seed Bull attending OtherGeneral Works 14 Drying of Coconuts for making Copra Processing workers Fish Peeling and Fish 15 Canning, Freezing and Exporting of Sea Foods. Icemen Loading and Unloading from trawlers Unskilled 16 Forests Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Unskilled 17 Handloom Industry Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled 18 Handling and Care of Elephants Lowest Rate Highest Rate

97.1 101.1 106.1 111.1 184.69 189.42 194.77 214.31 210 250 250 195 40.65 138 139 140 146 151 167 181 118 124 131 137 146.73 153.86

41.17 41.17 41.17 41.17 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 104.47 21.32 21.32 21.32 59.39 59.39 59.39 59.39 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32

138.27 142.27 147.27 152.27 206.01 210.74 216.09 235.63 231.32 271.32 271.32 216.32 145.12 159.32 160.32 161.32 205.39 210.39 226.39 240.39 139.32 145.32 152.32 158.32 168.05 175.18 9th June 2009 11th Dec 2009 15th Mar 2010 10th Aug 2009

19 Hill Product Industry

Lowest Rate Highest Rate Group I Group II

128 130 127.35 124.88 122.5 119.27 117.65 65 68 106.62 164.3 72.96 75.31 148 174 90.69 94.85 99 103.15 132.21 127.40

49.53 49.53 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 73.71 73.71 73.71 73.71 68.04 68.04 75.27 75.27 80.18 80.18 80.18 80.18 22.10 22.10

177.53 179.53 148.67 146.2 143.82 140.59 138.97 138.71 141.71 180.33 238.01 141 143.35 223.27 249.27 170.87 175.03 179.18 183.33 154.31 149.50 15th Dec 2009

20 Hostels

Group III Group IV Group V Unskilled

21 Hosiery Manufacturing

Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled

22 Ice Factory

Unskilled Highly skilled Lowest Rate Highest Rate Unskilled

23 Light Motor Vehicles

24

Liquor Trading & Vending

Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Manager Assistant Manager Accountant/ Cashier/ Clerk/ Typist/ Stenographer/ Computer operator/ Mechanic/ Driver (Heavy duty) Driver (Light duty)/ Delivery Boy/ Godown Keeper Attender/ Watchman/ peon/ Godown Assistant/ Sweeper

25

L.P.Gas (Cooking Gas) Agencies

122.60

22.10

144.70

27th May 2009

121.15 119.23 59.31 66.7 75 139 138 145 150 154 158 164 166 192.31 155

22.10 51.34 54.76 54.76 66.01 66.01 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32

143.25 183.55 114.07 121.46 141.01 205.01 159.32 166.32 171.32 175.32 179.32 185.32 187.32 213.63 176.32 10th Aug 16th Dec 2009

26 Match Industry

Unskilled Highly skilled Lowest Rate Highest Rate Unskilled Semi-skilledGr.2 Semi-skilledGr.1

27 Minor Ports

28 Minor Engineering

Skilled Gr.3 Skilled Gr.2 Skilled Gr.1 Highly skilled Supervisory

29 Nurseries

Unskilled

Skilled Clerk, Typist, Manager/Supervisor Unskilled 30 Oil Mill Semi-skilled Skilled General Category 31 Oil Palm Plantation Factory Skilled Rubber Plantation Field Workers Factory Workers Creche Attendants Special Category Supervisors Coffee Plantation Plantation i.e. any estate Which is maintained for 32 the purpose of growing Rubber, Coffee & Tea. Field Workers Factory Workers Creche Attendants Special Category Supervisors Tea Plantation Field Workers Creche Attendants Special Category Supervisors Unskilled 33 Plywood Industry Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Power loom Industry Unskilled excluding the workers Semi-skilled 34 employed in power loom section of Cotton Textile Skilled Mills in the State 35 Pharmacists in Medical Shop Highly skilled Unskilled Skilled

155 125 138.46 123 126.8 127.85 108 112 137

55 21.32 21.32 49.53 49.53 49.53 55.76 55.76 55.76

210 146.32 159.78 172.53 176.33 177.38 163.76 167.76 192.76

2009

87.01 90.33 98.19 100.69 102.19

75.01 75.01 86.55 86.55 86.55

162.02 165.34 184.74 187.24 188.74

49.02 51.42 55.92 57.46 58.38

75.01 75.01 86.55 86.55 86.55

124.03 126.43 142.47 144.01 144.93 12th June 2009

49.02 55.92 57.46 58.38 111 113 115 122 71.8 73.38 78.16 86.54 79.2 80.85 30.19 66.34

75.01 86.55 86.55 86.55 82.52 82.52 82.52 82.52 59.39 59.39 59.39 86.99 50.59 50.59 121.33 121.33

124.03 142.47 144.01 144.93 193.52 195.52 197.52 204.52 131.19 132.77 137.55 173.53 129.79 131.44 151.52 187.67 16th Dec 2009

36 Printing Press

Private Hospitals Lowest Rate Dispensaries Pharmacies 37 Clinical Laboratories, Highest Rate Scanning Center, X - Ray

Unit and other allied Institution Unskilled Rice Mill, Flour Mill & 38 Dhal Mill Semi-skilled Skilled River Sand Collection 39 and its loading and unloading Loading & Unloading North Zone South Zone Category 1 40 Rubber Crepe Mills Category 2 Category 3 Unskilled 41 Rubber Products Industry Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Grade E Grade D Shops & Establishments 42 (including Hotels and Restaurants) Grade C Grade B Grade A Special Grade Unskilled Stone Breaking and 43 Stone Crushing Semi-skilled Skilled Unskilled 44 Tile Industry Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Unskilled 45 Timber Industry and Plywood Industry Semi-skilled Skilled Highly skilled Grade I 46 Toddy Tapping Grade II Grade III Grade IV Units engaged in 47 manufacturing & sale of umbrellas 48 Sales Promition of Pharmaceuticals Piece rate wages exists 27th May 2009 30th Jan 181 174 167 250 250 300 139 134 130 85 92.5 95 96.25 143.35 146.15 149.12 152.08 157.85 161.69 112.46 142.62 164.18 120.2 120.2 121.8 122.3 111 113 115 122 121.73 116.85 111.92 107.04 22.1 22.1 22.1 51.39 51.39 51.39 21.32 21.32 21.32 67.39 67.39 67.39 67.39 24.9 24.9 24.9 24.9 24.9 24.9 67.39 67.39 67.39 31.72 31.72 31.72 31.72 49.36 49.36 49.36 49.36 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 203.1 196.1 189.1 301.39 301.39 351.39 160.32 155.32 9th Oct 2009 151.32 152.39 159.89 162.39 163.64 168.25 171.05 174.02 176.98 182.75 186.59 179.85 210.01 231.57 151.92 151.92 153.52 154.02 160.36 162.36 164.36 171.36 123.73 118.85 113.92 109.04 30th Mar 2010 23rd July 2009 24th Feb 2010

Sales Promotion Employees Piece rate wages exists

273

21.32

294.32

49 Manufacture and sale of

Umbrellas Gold and Silver 50 Ornament s manufacturing Unskilled Skilled Highly skilled Working in the Municipalities/corporation areas Other areas Household Workers Care Takers(Childrens/ Elders) Cook Other household Workers 52 Domestic Workers Maid/ Driver/ Gardener/ Home Nurse(Part Time) Home Nurse (Full time) Security/ Watch man/ Garden Workers 175 225 250 150 135 130 134 142 130 146 150 142 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 21.32 0 0 0 0 0 0 196.32

2010

246.32 7th Oct 2009 271.32 171.32 156.32 151.32 134 142 130 146 150 142 9th Mar 2010 19th April 2010

51 Sweeping and Cleaning

Minimum wages in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu: Minimum Wages w.e.f October 1, 2010

Sr. No. 1

Scheduled Employment Agarbathi Industry Agriculture and works ancillary to Agriculture

Basic Minimum Wages 69.73

V.D.A. 38.57

Total Minimum Wages 108.30

a) Men Workers for 6 hr b) Women Workers for 5 hr

100.00 85.00 70.00 93.42 109.15 138.50 78.00 74.00 127.00 132.50 87.42 128.73

0.00 0.00 44.46 51.77 60.42 76.69 42.24 39.60 78.18 15.20 48.23 71.07

100.00 85.00 114.46 145.19 169.57 215.19 120.24 113.60 205.18 147.70 135.65 199.80

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Aerated Water Manufactory Appalam Manufactory Automobile Workshop Auto Rickshaw and Taxi Bakeries and Biscuits Manufactory Bricks and Tiles Manufactory Carpentry and Black Smith Cashew Industry Chemical and Fertilizers Industry Cinema Industry Coaching Academics that is to say tutorial colleges, Technical Institutes, Primary Schools, run on commercial lines without Govt. grant other than those run by Govt. and local bodies as the case may be.

13

51.92

36.23

88.15

14 15 16 17

Coconut Peeling Industry Coir Manufactory Coffee Curing Works Construction or Maintenance of Road and in Building Operations Cotton Ginning , Pressing and Cotton Waste Industry Distribution of Liquid Petroleum Gas Cylinders Electronics Industry Fire Works Manufactory Food Processing Industry Footwear Making Industries Employment in Forestry General Engineering & Fabrication Industry Gunny Industry Gold and Silver Articles Manufactory Granite Industry Handloom Silk Weaving Industry Handloom Weaving Industry Hotel and Restaurants Hospitals and Nursing Homes Laundries and Washing Cloths (including Woolen) Leather Goods Manufactory Loading and Unloading Operations in markets, shandies (fairs and market place) and other like places. Match Manufacturing Mat Weaving and Basket Making Medical & Sales representative Motion Picture Industry Neera Tapping Any oil Mill a) Paper and other incidental processes connected with machine made paper Industry b) Paper and other incidental Processes connected with Hand Made Paper Plantation

79.00 90.00 73.00 117.00

42.24 53.00 39.60 63.36

121.24 143.00 112.60 180.36

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41

91.00 82.69 91.00 31.50 86.50 72.23 39.00 104.00 130.00 131.00 130.26

51.76 45.69 50.27 61.04 48.03 49.68 72.15 60.92 71.28 71.28 72.07 Piece Rate Piece Rate

142.76 128.38 141.27 92.54 134.53 121.91 111.15 164.92 201.28 202.28 202.33

98.85 107.19 140.50 72.23 85.00 68.50 75.00 129.73 103.07 154.00 83.00 87.27

72.60 59.38 76.56 49.68 44.88 36.96 39.60 72.09 56.84 84.48 47.72 48.23

171.45 166.57 217.06 121.91 129.88 105.46 114.60 201.82 159.91 238.48 130.72 135.50

42

83.42

46.20

129.62

43

a) Tea b) Coffee c) Rubber

78.00 77.00 81.50

50.25 50.25 50.25

128.25 127.25 131.75

44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

Power Loom Industry Polythene Processing Foam Item and Plastic Manufactory Printing Presses Public Motor Transport Rice Mill, Flour Mills and Dhall mills Sago Industry Salt Pans Sea Food processing Industry Security Guards Sericulture Industry Shops and Commercial Establishments Silk Twisting Industry Soap Manufactory Synthetic Gem Cutting Industry Tailoring Industry Textile mills (Apprentice) Timber Industry Tin Container Manufactory Tobacco Manufactory a) Beedi making (other than beedi rolling)

29.00 47.12 72.81 137.30 88.50 94.50 89.00 79.92 90.35 95.00 78.88 97.00 122.00

52.91 87.88 40.12 76.15 47.52 53.61 47.52 44.38 49.77 52.80 43.65 52.80 71.08 Piece Rate

81.91 135.00 112.93 213.45 136.02 148.11 136.52 124.30 140.12 147.80 122.53 149.80 193.08

70.19 110.00 132.50 91.00

38.58 60.72 71.28 50.26

108.77 170.72 203.78 141.26

96.15 37.20 67.50 78.00

50.77 48.62 36.96 42.24

146.92 85.82 104.46 120.24

62

b) Beedi Rolling (per 1000 beedis) c) Scented and chewing Tobacco d) Snuff Industry

63 64 65

Guaranteed Time Rates of Wages Tobacco (including Beedi making) Manufactory Vessels Utensils Manufactory Tanneries and Leather Goods Manufactory 72.00 57.00

(Guaranteed Time Rates) 39.60 47.83 111.60 104.83