Understanding Minimum Wage Rules for Contract Labor in Non-Core Activities: What Are Your Experiences?

Minimum Wage for Contract Labor in Non-Core Activities

What is the minimum wage payable to contract labor engaged in non-core activities like security, canteen, and others? Are minimum wages applicable for the activity or industry in which they have been deployed?

Regards,
T. Balaji CMA

As per the Minimum Wages Act in Maharashtra, there are three types: trainee, semi-skilled, and skilled. The wages amount to around 6000 per month.

Regards,
[Name]

First, you need to inform me whether your firm falls under the central or state government authority. If it falls under the central government, then visit labour.nic.in. If it falls under the state government, then please find the official website of the state government to check the minimum wage rates.

My question is whether we have to adopt industry-specific rates or SPL rates applicable for canteen/security.
Regards,
T. Balaji

My question is, is there any difference between contract labor minimum wages and the Minimum Wages Act?

You have to follow the skill base. In these cases, you will give minimum wages for the canteen, etc., not for the industry in which the canteen runs.

The minimum wage of 6000 is only applicable to office employees in Mumbai, not for other places and cities, and not for roles like canteen staff, etc.

Please support this with some case law so that everyone will benefit from this discussion.

Regards,
T. Balaji

This is the standard practice. The notification states that these are the minimum wages to be paid for each function in each industry. People working in the canteen are not part of the engineering industry but the canteen industry. In the engineering industry, the minimum wages are set based on the skills required in that industry.

Categories of Skilled, Semi-Skilled, and Unskilled

The categories of Skilled, Semi-Skilled, and Unskilled are determined by whether the person can work independently or needs supervision and constant direction. This classification depends on the notification issued by the state government.

In Karnataka, for the textile industry, canteen staff is also listed, and the minimum wage is specified at 106.8+50.22, so we are obligated to pay that amount. However, if there is no specific mention, the salary for the canteen industry or function should be considered.

Even if the contractual workers are working in non-core activities, it is better to follow the minimum wage of the scheduled industry in which they are employed.

Dear All,

I recently joined a bulk drug manufacturing factory. Please help me with the minimum wages for contract labor employees. Also, what category do Operators in the production department fall under? Kindly guide me if there is a website available for obtaining information on the same.

Thank you.