Revision of Minimum rates of wages notifications under the Minimum Wages Act

What this Gazette publication is

The Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Part II, Section 2, dated 27 April 2022, carries draft minimum wage revision notifications issued by the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department. The publication includes G.O. (D). No. 148, dated 5th April 2022, G.O. (D). No. 149, dated 5th April 2022, G.O. (D). No. 150, dated 5th April 2022, and G.O. (D). No. 151, dated 5th April 2022.

What it changes

The draft notifications propose revised minimum rates of wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for these employments in the State of Tamil Nadu:

• Employment in Silk Twisting Industry
• Employment in Gold and Silver Articles Manufactory
• Employment in Forestry
• One further employment under G.O. (D). No. 151, dated 5th April 2022, but the source text provided is incomplete

For Silk Twisting Industry, Gold and Silver Articles Manufactory, and Forestry, the draft text expressly says the revised wages are issued in supersession of earlier Labour and Employment Department notifications published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

Who may be affected

This publication matters to:

• Workers in the listed employments
• Employers in those sectors in Tamil Nadu
• Contractors, workshop owners, and factory operators who pay wages in these trades
• Anyone checking whether a business must follow revised minimum wage proposals

Key provisions shown in the source text

• The draft notifications will be considered on or after the expiry of two months from the date of publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
• Objections or suggestions may be sent to the Secretary to Government, Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, through the Commissioner of Labour, Chennai.
• In the Silk Twisting Industry schedule, sample categories listed include Winding, Doubling, Warping, Maistry or Clerk, and Administrative Assistant.
• In Gold and Silver Articles Manufactory, the schedules set rates for gold articles, silver kolusu manufacture, and other silver articles, with different rates based on type of work and weight.
• In Forestry, the schedule lists categories such as Nursery Mazdoor or Nursery Worker, Plot Mazdoor or Plot Watcher, Fire Patrol Watcher, Sandalwood Protection or Roaming Watcher, graded mazdoor wages, sandalwood depot work, wattle operations, and blue gum cutting and stacking.
• The Silk Twisting Industry and Gold and Silver Articles Manufactory drafts provide for dearness allowance linked to the Average Chennai City Consumer Price Index.
• The Silk Twisting Industry and Gold and Silver Articles Manufactory drafts say no distinction in wages shall be made between men and women where the work is the same or similar.
• The drafts shown say that where existing wages are higher than the minimum wages fixed, the higher wages shall continue to be paid.

Important limitation

The source text provided is incomplete for the notification under G.O. (D). No. 151, dated 5th April 2022. Because of that, only the visible fragments of that schedule can be identified from the text supplied.