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How is the scenario for labour rights changing in India?

After a big bonanza of the 7th Pay Commission on allowances for over 48 lakh Central government employees last year, the Code on Wages which proposes making minimum wages a statutory right for all employees is another major reform.

The Code would ensure universal minimum wage for all industries and workers.

Moreover, it will also cover those workers who are getting a monthly pay of higher than Rs 18,000.

The Code on Wages Bill seeks to empower the Centre to set a minimum wage across sectors and states will have to maintain that.

Moreover, states will be able to provide for higher minimum wages in their jurisdiction than fixed by the Central government.

Besides, the minimum wage would be applicable to all classes of workers. At present, it is applicable for scheduled industries or establishments in the law.

The universal minimum wage would be applicable for all workers irrespective of their pay. As of now, minimum wages are now applicable to 51 scheduled employments only.

The wage code amalgamates the provisions of four extant Acts — the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, The Payment of Wages Act, 1936, The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

It also aims at reducing disparity in minimum wages across states.

The wage code will empower the Centre to notify a ‘national minimum wage’ (below which no state can fix their minimum wages) and this will be revised every two years (five years if the dearness allowance becomes part of the minimum wages).

The Centre will fix different wages through a notification after consulting the Central Advisory Board.

The Bill states that the state governments will fix their minimum wages keeping in mind “the skill required, arduousness of the work assigned to the worker, the cost of living of the worker, geographical location of the place of work,” among other factors.

The ministerial panel on labour issues headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has already approved the Code on Wages. The ministry is in the process of getting the draft law approved by the Union Cabinet.

What is the amendment about?

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the introduction of the Payment of (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament.

The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 seeks to amend the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, which applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons.

The Amendment will increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees in the private sector, Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous Organizations under the government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, at par with Central Government employees.

Accordingly, the gratuity withdrawal limit for staff in private companies and public-sector units has been doubled to Rs20 lakh.

At present, even if a worker accumulates more than Rs10 lakh as gratuity contribution, the withdrawal is capped at Rs10 lakh and the rest is paid out after deduction of taxes.

What is gratuity?

Simply put, it’s a lump-sum payment given by the employer.

The main purpose of gratuity is to provide social security to workmen after retirement, whether retirement is a result of the rules of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. In case of death of the employee, his/her nominee gets the benefit.

Any company that employs 10 people or more in the preceding 12 months should give this benefit. It includes both commercial and non-commercial establishments like educational institutes.

It is a ‘defined benefit’ plan, which means that the employee knows the gratuity amount in advance.

It largely depends on two things, the tenure of service and last drawn salary.

To be a beneficiary, the employee should have completed at five of continuous service at the company.

With the reference to the Religious history of India, consider the following statement:
1.The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana Sect of Buddhism
2.Bodhisattva is the compassionate one on his way to enlightenment
3.Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it

Which of the statements given above is/are correct
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 2 only
D. 1, 2, and 3

With reference to the art and archaeo­logical history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
A. Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
B. Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
C. Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
D. Varaha Image at Udayagiri

Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
A. Swapnavasavadatta
B. Malavikagnimitra
C. Meghadoota
D. Ratnavati

Consider the following pairs:

Famous place - Region
1.Bodhgaya - Baghelkhand
2.Khajuraho - Bundelkhand
3.Shirdi - Vidarbha
4.Nasik(Nashik) - Malwa
5.Tirupati - Rayalascema

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. 1, 2 and 4
B. 2, 3, 4 and 5
C. 2 and 5 only
D. 1, 3, 4 and 5