Wage Code Bill, 2019

• 2017: Introduced in Lok Sabha first.
• Subsumes following 4 Acts:
• Payment of Wages Act, 1926.
• Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
• Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.
• Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
• Object: To transform old and obsolete labour laws.
• Universalizes the provision of minimum wages and timely payment of wages to employees, irrespective of sectors.
• Central Government will fix floor wages taking into account living standard of workers.
• It may also fix different floor wages for different geographical areas.
• Minimum wages to be fixed higher than floor wages.
• Advisory boards to be constituted by the Central Government and state governments to advise government on issues of fixation of minimum wages, increasing employment opportunities for women etc.
• Prohibits gender discrimination in matters of payment of wages and recruitment.
• Constitutional Provisions:
• Article 43: state shall endeavor to secure to all workers a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life.
• Labour is the subject of Concurrent List.   
• Expert committee headed by Anoop Satpathy, submitted report on Determining the Methodology for Fixation of the National Minimum Wage.