New Delhi: The draft wage code drawn up by the Union government proposes an overhaul of the existing remuneration guidelines for workers across the country. A significant proposal is to fix nine hours of work daily.
In a normal day, the work hours, including breaks, would be nine hours. It should not extend beyond 12 hours, states the Draft Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2019.
However, the daily wage would be based on eight hours and the monthly wages would be calculated on 26 days of eight hours. This suggestion has been found ambiguous by many.
Other recommendations include deciding on Dearness Allowance on April 1 and October 1 every year as well as reviving every five years minimum wages for all workers.
Another proposal is granting a bonus to all those whose income doesn’t exceed the monthly limit set by the central and state governments. Companies, where employees are recruited by contractors, would be liable to give the bonus if the contractor does not do so.
Instead of the wage board, a technical committee would decide on the salary of media persons, states another suggestion.
The draft has been put in the public domain for review by the labour and employment ministry. The public may provide feedback on the proposal within a month.
