- Parliament has passed the Code on Wages Bill, 2019.The Bill has subsumed existing laws related to workers remuneration.
- The bill will replace the (a)Payment of Wages Act,1936, (b)Minimum Wages Act,1948 (c)Payment of Bonus Act,1965 and the (d)Equal Remuneration Act,1976.
- The bill makes it difficult for companies to bribe labour inspectors of their region for favourable decisions or ignoring violations.
- Under the bill,labour inspectors will be computer-chosen and randomly assigned to factories in an attempt to check graft.Currently,labour inspectors are tied to specific regions,a practice that bred corruption.
- The bill has also introduced changes in the inspection regime to be conducted by inspectors-cum-facilitators.
- It includes (a)web-based randomized computerized inspection scheme (b)jurisdiction-free inspections (c)calling of information electronically for inspection (e)composition of fines among others.
- Under the bill,the labour inspector can search, seize or take copies of such a register, record of wages or notices or portions thereof in respect of an offence under the Wage Code.
