Lok Sabha Question No. 4773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-22
Subject: Agricultural Labourers and NonAgricultural Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4773 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2019

## AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS AND NONAGRICULTURAL WORKERS

4773. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. HEENA GAVIT:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT  be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  minimum  wage  of  agricultural  labourers  is  far  less  than nonagricultural workers;
- (b)if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the corrective steps taken by the Government to improve the minimum wages of agricultural labourers;
- (c)whether  the  condition  of  women  agricultural  labourers  is  worse
- than the male agricultural labourers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the conditions of women agricultural labourers; and
- (e)if so, the details and the outcome thereof and the follow-up action
- taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (c): Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, both Central  and  State  Governments  are  appropriate  Governments  to  fix, review and revise the minimum wages of the workers employed in the scheduled  employment  under  their  respective  jurisdictions.  Rates fixed in the Central sphere are applicable to establishments under the authority of Central Government, railway administration, mines, oil-

fields, major port or any corporation established by a Central Government.  Employment  other  than  the  scheduled  employment  for central  Sphere  come  under  the  purview  of  State  Government  and accordingly State Government wages are applicable in such employments.  A  copy  of  current  rate  of  minimum  wages  w.e.f. 01.04.2019 for Central Sphere is at Annexure.

Equal  Remuneration  Act,  1976  provides  for  payment  of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination. The Act is effectively enforced by the Central and State Government by conducting regular inspections to detect the violation of provisions of the  Act  by  establishments.  The  office  of  Chief  Labour  Commissioner (Central) in the Central Sphere and State Government in State Sphere are  the  appropriate  authorities  to  conduct  inspection  to  ensure implementation of the provisions of the Act. Officers of the appropriate Government  notified  as  Inspectors  make  inspections  and  prosecute those found violating provision of the Act.

The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers Welfare  is  not  implementing  any  specific  programmes  for  women farmers and as a part of its mainstreaming efforts, it ensures flow of funds to the tune of 30% for the benefit of women farmers under its various beneficiary oriented schemes.

- (d): No Sir.
- (e): Doesn't arise in view of (d) above.

*                                                        *****

## Annexure in reply to part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4773 for 22.07.2019

## Area wise Current Rates of Minimum Wages for Scheduled Employments in the Central Sphere

As on 01.04.2019

| Name of Scheduled Employment                                            | Category of Worker                                                            | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                            | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                            | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                            |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name of Scheduled Employment                                            | Category of Worker                                                            | Area A                                                                     | Area B                                                                     | Area C                                                                     |
| 1. Agriculture                                                          | Unskilled                                                                     | 371.00                                                                     | 339.00                                                                     | 336.00                                                                     |
| 1. Agriculture                                                          | Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory                                            | 407.00                                                                     | 373.00                                                                     | 343.00                                                                     |
| 1. Agriculture                                                          | Skilled/Clerical                                                              | 441.00                                                                     | 407.00                                                                     | 372.00                                                                     |
| 1. Agriculture                                                          | Highly Skilled                                                                | 488.00                                                                     | 454.00                                                                     | 407.00                                                                     |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift:    | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (a) Soft Soil                                                                 | 393.00                                                                     | 393.00                                                                     | 393.00                                                                     |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (b) Soft Soil with Rock                                                       | 592.00                                                                     | 592.00                                                                     | 592.00                                                                     |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (c) Rock                                                                      | 784.00                                                                     | 784.00                                                                     | 784.00                                                                     |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | 2. Removal and Staking of rejected stones with 50 metres lead 1.5 metres lift | 316.00                                                                     | 316.00                                                                     | 316.00                                                                     |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | Stone breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size                           | Stone breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size                        | Stone breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size                        | Stone breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size                        |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (a) 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches                                                    | 2417.00                                                                    | 2417.00                                                                    | 2417.00                                                                    |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (b) Above 1.5 Inches to 3.0 Inches                                            | 2067.00                                                                    | 2067.00                                                                    | 2067.00                                                                    |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (c) Above 3.0 Inches to 5 Inches                                              | 1213.00                                                                    | 1213.00                                                                    | 1213.00                                                                    |
| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing | (d) Above 5.0 Inches                                                          | 995.00                                                                     | 995.00                                                                     | 995.00                                                                     |
| 3. Sweeping and Cleaning                                                | Unskilled                                                                     | 584.00                                                                     | 487.00                                                                     | 390.00                                                                     |
| 4. Watch and Ward                                                       | Without Arms                                                                  | 710.00                                                                     | 645.00                                                                     | 551.00                                                                     |
| 4. Watch and Ward                                                       | With Arms                                                                     | 772.00                                                                     | 710.00                                                                     | 645.00                                                                     |
| 5. Loading and Unloading                                                | Unskilled                                                                     | 584.00                                                                     | 487.00                                                                     | 390.00                                                                     |
| 6. Construction                                                         | Unskilled                                                                     | 584.00                                                                     | 487.00                                                                     | 390.00                                                                     |
| 6. Construction                                                         | Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory                                            | 645.00                                                                     | 551.00                                                                     | 457.00                                                                     |
| 6. Construction                                                         | Skilled/Clerical                                                              | 710.00                                                                     | 645.00                                                                     | 551.00                                                                     |
| 7. Non-Coal Mines                                                       | Highly Skilled                                                                | 772.00                                                                     | 710.00                                                                     | 645.00                                                                     |
|                                                                         |                                                                               | Above Ground                                                               | Below Ground                                                               | Below Ground                                                               |
|                                                                         | Unskilled                                                                     | 390.00                                                                     | 487.00                                                                     | 487.00                                                                     |
|                                                                         | Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory                                            | 487.00                                                                     | 584.00                                                                     | 584.00                                                                     |
|                                                                         | Skilled/Clerical                                                              | 584.00                                                                     | 681.00                                                                     | 681.00                                                                     |
|                                                                         | Highly Skilled                                                                | 681.00                                                                     | 761.00                                                                     | 761.00                                                                     |
| Name of Scheduled Employment                                            | Nomenclature                                                                  | Nomenclature                                                               | Nomenclature                                                               | Nomenclature                                                               |
| 1. Agriculture                                                          | Agriculture                                                                   | Agriculture                                                                | Agriculture                                                                | Agriculture                                                                |

| 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing   | 2. Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Workers engaged in Stone Mines for Stone Breaking and Stone Crushing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3. Sweeping and Cleaning                                                  | Employment of Sweeping and Cleaning excluding Activities prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Employment of Sweeping and Cleaning excluding Activities prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 4. Watch and Ward                                                         | Employment of Watch and Ward                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Employment of Watch and Ward                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 5. Loading and Unloading                                                  | Employment in Loading and Unloading in (i) Goods Sheds, Parcel Offices of Railways; (ii) Other Goodssheds, Godowns, Warehouses etc. and; (iii) Docks and Ports                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Employment in Loading and Unloading in (i) Goods Sheds, Parcel Offices of Railways; (ii) Other Goodssheds, Godowns, Warehouses etc. and; (iii) Docks and Ports                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 6. Construction                                                           | Construction or maintenance of Roads or Runways or in Building Operations including laying down Underground Electric, Wireless, Radio, Television, Telephone, Telegraph and Overseas Communication Cables and similar other Underground Cabling Work, Electric Lines, Water Supply Lines and Sewerage Pipe Lines                                                                                                                                                  | Construction or maintenance of Roads or Runways or in Building Operations including laying down Underground Electric, Wireless, Radio, Television, Telephone, Telegraph and Overseas Communication Cables and similar other Underground Cabling Work, Electric Lines, Water Supply Lines and Sewerage Pipe Lines                                                                                                                                                  |
| 7. Non-Coal Mines                                                         | Employees engaged in the employment of Gypsum, Barytes, Bauxite, Manganese, China Clay, Kyanite, Copper,Clay, Magnesite, White Clay, Stone, Steatite (including the mines producing Soap Stones and Talc), Orchre, Asbestos, Fire Clay, Chromite, Quartzite, Quartz, Silica, Graphite, Felspar, Laterite, Dolomite, Red Oxide, Wolfram, Iron Ore, Granite, Rock Phosphate, Hematite, Marble and Calcite, Uranium, Mica, Lignite, Grave, Slate and Magnetite Mines | Employees engaged in the employment of Gypsum, Barytes, Bauxite, Manganese, China Clay, Kyanite, Copper,Clay, Magnesite, White Clay, Stone, Steatite (including the mines producing Soap Stones and Talc), Orchre, Asbestos, Fire Clay, Chromite, Quartzite, Quartz, Silica, Graphite, Felspar, Laterite, Dolomite, Red Oxide, Wolfram, Iron Ore, Granite, Rock Phosphate, Hematite, Marble and Calcite, Uranium, Mica, Lignite, Grave, Slate and Magnetite Mines |

******