Minimum Wages Act
The Act empowers the Government to fix minimum wages for employees working in specified employments. It provides for review and revision of minimum wages already fixed after suitable intervals not exceeding five years. Central Government is the appropriate agency in relation to any scheduled employment carried on by or under its authority or in railway administration or in relation to mines, oilfields or major ports or any corporation established under the Central Act. State governments are the appropriate Government in relation to other scheduled employment. The Central Government is concerned to a limited extent with building and construction activities mostly carried on by Central Public Works Department, Ministry of Defence etc, and agricultural farms under the Ministries of Defence and Agriculture. Bulk of such employment fall in the state spheres and state governments are required to fix/revise wages and ensure their implementation in respect of scheduled employment within their spheres. Enforcement of Minimum wages in Central sphere is secured [through the Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM). The Central Government has fixed Minimum Wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for 40 scheduled employments under the Central Sphere. CLC(C), is revising VDA at the interval of six months i.e. W.e.f. 1st April and 1st October
