Revised Maharashtra Minimum Wages for Shops and Establishments

In an updation made to the Maharashtra minimum wages, the government has amended the rates applicable to those employed in shops and commercial establishments. Here are some of the points covered in the recently released revision –

CLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS

-          Skilled employee: one capable of working efficiently, of exercising considerable independent judgement and of discharging duties responsibly

-          Semi-skilled employee: one who generally conducts work of a well-defined routine nature, wherein the requirement is not so much of judgement or dexterity of skill, but more a proper discharge of duties of his job where decisions are made by others. This involves execution of routine operations with limited scope

-          Unskilled employee: one whose operations involve carrying out of simple duties involving little or no independent judgement or prior experience, with familiarity of the working environment being necessary. Nature of work may, in addition to physical exertion, require familiarity with articles or goods

WAGES PAYABLE

-          Daily wages: minimum rate of daily wages payable is to be computed as minimum rate of monthly wage fixed for the corresponding class of worker divided by twenty six, rounded off to the higher nearest paisa

-          Hourly wages: minimum hourly wages payable to part-timers shall be computed by dividing daily wages applicable to the class of employees by eight, and factoring a rise of 15%, rounded off to the higher nearest paisa

The minimum wages will be inclusive of payment of remuneration in consideration of the weekly day of rest, and will comprise the basic rate and cost of living index.

COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE

The consumer price index for the working class will be the cost of living index applicable to these employees. The government will review and publish the cost of living index for these employees every six months – in January and July of each year. The cost of living allowance, payable for six months to these employees for the period of six months has been calculated at Rs. 26 per month. The cost of living allowance shall be calculated and published in the last week of July, applicable each month from July to December. A similar cost of living allowance published at the end of January will be applicable between January and June.  

SCHEDULE OF MINIMUM WAGES

Serial No	Class of Employee	Basic minimum rate of wages per month [3]
		Zone I (Rs.)	Zone II (Rs.)	Zone III (Rs.)
1	Skilled	11,632	11,036	10,440
2	Semi-skilled	10,856	10,260	9,664
3	Unskilled	10,021	9,425	8,828

Zone I will include all areas in the radius of Municipal Corporations and Industrial Areas within a radius of 20 kilometres of all Municipal Corporation limits and cantonment areas

Zone II includes all areas within the limits of Municipal Councils

Zone III will comprise other areas in the state not covered in Zone I and Zone II