The circular from the Office of the Labour Commissioner, Government of West Bengal, outlines the minimum rates of wages for employees in the state for the period from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. Here are the key points from the circular:
- Scheduled Employments: The minimum rates of wages apply to 30 Scheduled Employments in the state, and the rates have been updated based on Fixation/Revision notifications for each scheduled employment.
- Implementing Areas:
- Zone A: Includes areas under Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Notified Areas, Development Authorities, and Thermal Power Plant areas, including Township Areas.
- Zone B: Encompasses the rest of West Bengal.
- Calculation of Rates:
- To determine the daily rate, the monthly rate should be divided by 26 (rounded off to the nearest rupee).
- To find the weekly rate, the daily rate should be multiplied by 6.
- Normal Working Day: A normal working day consists of eight hours of actual work with a minimum half-hour recess, totaling 48 hours of actual work in a week.
- Weekly Rest: One day in any seven-day period, as per local convenience, is designated as the day of weekly rest. The minimum rates of wages include wages for the weekly day of rest. Payment for work done on the weekly rest day and beyond normal working hours is at double the ordinary rates.
- Protection of Higher Rates: If the existing rates of wages for any employee, based on a contractor, agreement, or other means, are higher than the rates specified in the circular, the higher rates will be protected.
- Applicability to Contractors: The minimum rates of wages are applicable to employees employed by contractors.
- Rates for Disabled Persons: The minimum rates of wages for disabled persons are the same as those payable to workers of the appropriate category.
- Gender Equality: Men and women employees are entitled to the same rates of wages for the same work or work of similar nature.
- Enforceability: The minimum rates of wages, along with variable dearness allowance (if any), together constitute the minimum rates of wages enforceable under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948).
The circular has been issued with the approval of the Labour Commissioner, West Bengal, as of December 12, 2023.
