How Should We Handle Client Demands for 4-Hour Shifts While Ensuring Fair Wages?

We are one of the security agencies in South India, and one of our clients wants us to provide services for 4 hours per day in two shifts, i.e., 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. We have quoted a minimum of 8 hours of wage per day. However, our client is telling us that we are not required to pay the 8 hours' wage as we are only utilizing services for 4 hours, and they will pay accordingly.

As per my understanding, we are obligated to pay a minimum of 8 hours' wage per day, regardless of the number of hours the services are utilized.

Please advise on how I should proceed.

Regards,
Venkatesh

Please check the provisions of The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 applicable to you. Also, verify whether security is in scheduled employment and the time period fixed therein for payment of minimum wages, i.e., hourly, daily, or monthly.

Minimum Wage Periods

Please refer to the following:
- Minimum rates of wages may be fixed by any one or more of the following wage periods, namely:
(i) by the hour,
(ii) by the day,
(iii) by the month, or
(iv) by such other larger wage period as may be prescribed, and where such rates are fixed by the day or by the month, the manner of calculating wages for a month or for a day, as the case may be, may be indicated.

Provided that where any wage periods have been fixed under section 4 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (4 of 1936), minimum wages shall be fixed in accordance therewith.

Regards,
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]