Minimum Wages Act, 1948

[Penalties for certain offences.

22. Any employer who-

(a)	-	pays to any employee less than the minimum rates of wages fixed for that employee's class of work, or less than the amount due to him under the provisions of this Act, or
(b)	-	contravenes any rule or order made under section 13,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both:

Provided that in imposing any fine for an offence under this section, the Court shall take into consideration the amount of any compensation already awarded against the accused in any proceedings taken under section 20.]

STATE AMENDMENTS

KARNATAKA

In section 22,-

For the words "which may extend to five hundred rupees" the words "which shall not be less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to ten thousand rupees" shall be substituted. - Vide Karnataka Act No.40 of 2017.

KERALA

In section 22,-

For the words "five hundred rupees" the words "one lakh rupees" shall be substituted. - Vide Kerala Act 23 of 2017.

MAHARASHTRA

In section 22 in clause (a), after the words "Provisions of this Act" the following shall be inserted, namely :-

"or fails to pay the wages within .... To read the full section download the app from Google Play store