Minimum wages notified by west bengal is inclusive of HRA or exclusive.

Hi,
As per West Bengal minimum wages notification a Highly skilled is to be paid Rs.11686/- for Zone I. This minimum wage is inclusive of HRA or do we need to pay additional 5% with reference to West Bengal HRA Act, 1974. request your help in clearing this doubt.

HRA has to be paid separately. Minimum wages includes Basic an
S K Bandyopadhyay (howrah, WB)
98310 81531

HRA has to be paid separately. Minimum wages includes Basic and DA.
S K Bandyopadhyay (howrah, WB)
98310 81531

Thank you for your guidance sir.

Dear mr. Dhansekhar,
This is against your query: House rent is a component under minimum wages, if one wish to pay extra there is no issue because it is a welfare measure.
As per the definition under Minimum wages Act - 1948, Section 2 (h) Wages means all remuneration capable of being expressed in terms of money, which would be payable to a person employed in respect of his employment or work done in his employment and includes HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE (w.e.f. 17/09/1957) but does not include - Gratuity, PF/ESI contribution, travelling allowance or concession, value of any facility or service extended to the employee. Technically minimum wages can be split into: BASIC +DA+HRA.

House rent is a component of Minimum wages is a fact. But all the States in India published Minimum wages as Basic & DA. In wage code, HRA has been dropped from the definition of minimum wages. At the same time there are few States who have State House rent Allowance Act which is 5% of Basic and DA.
Therefore, it will be better to pay 5% HRA in case of WB under WB House Rent Allowance Act over and above minimum wages as published by State Government (Basic & DA).
S K Bandyopadhyay ( WB, Howrah)
CEO-USD HR Solutions