Last Change:

06/24/2025

Minimum Wages Ordinance, 1961

Year: 1961

Type: Domestic law

Rights Category: Work & Workplace rights

Selected provisions
Section 3 - Establishment of Minimum Wages Boards.

(1) As soon as may be after the commencement of this Ordinance, the Provincial Government shall establish a Minimum Wages Board for the Province consisting of the following four members to be appointed by it, namely:—
(a) the Chairman of the Board;
(b) one independent member;
(c) one member to represent the employers of the Province; and
(d) one member to represent the workers of the Province;
Provided that for the purpose of discharging the function of a Board specified in section 5 the following two more members appointed by the Provincial Government shall be added, namely :—
(i) one member to represent the employers connected with the industry concerned; and
(ii) one member to represent the workers engaged in such industry.
(2) The Chairman of the Board and the independent member shall be appointed from persons with adequate knowledge of industrial, labour and economic conditions of the Province who are not connected with any industry or associated with any employers’ or workers’ organization.
(3) The member to represent the employers of the Province and the member to represent the workers of the Province under sub-section (1) shall be appointed after considering nominations, if any, of such organizations as the Provincial Government considers to be representative organizations of such employers and workers respectively.
(4) The members referred to in the proviso to sub-section (1) to represent the employers connected with and the workers engaged in the industry concerned shall be appointed after considering nominations, if any, of such organizations as the Provincial Government considers to be representative organizations of such employers and workers respectively.
(5) The term of office of the members of the Board, the manner of filling casual vacancies therein, the appointment of its committees, if any, the procedure and conduct of the meetings of the Board and its committees and all matters connected therewith, including the fees and allowances to be paid for attending such meetings, and other expenses, including expenses for the services of experts and advisers obtained by the Board, shall be such as may be prescribed by rules made under section 17.

Section 4 - Recommendation of minimum rates of wages for unskilled and Juvenile workers.

(1) A Board shall, upon a reference made to it by the Provincial Government, recommend to such Government, after such enquiry as the Board thinks fit, the minimum rates of wages for adult unskilled workers and juvenile workers employed in industrial undertakings in the Province.
(2) In its recommendations under sub-section (1), the Board shall indicate, whether the minimum rates of wages should be adopted uniformly throughout the Province or with such local variations for such localities as are specified therein.

Section 5 - Recommendation of minimum rates of wages for workers with respect to particular industries.

(1) Where in respect of any particular industry in the Province for which no adequate machinery exists for effective regulation of wages, the Provincial Government is of the opinion that, having regard to the wages of the workers employed in the undertakings engaged in such industry, it is expedient to fix the minimum rates of wages of such workers, it may direct the Board to recommend, after such enquiry as the Board thinks fit, the minimum rates of wages either for all such workers or for such of them as are specified in the direction
(2) In pursuance of a direction under sub-section (1), the Board may recommend minimum rates of wages for all classes of workers in any grade and, in such recommendation, may specify—
(a) the minimum rages of wages for -
(i) time work;
(ii) piece work;
(iii) overtime work; and
(iv) work on the weekly day of rest and for paid holidays; and
(b) the minimum time rates for workers employed on piece work so as to guarantee minimum wages on a time basis for such workers.
(3) The time rates recommended by the Board may be on hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis. (4) The rates recommended under this section for overtime work and work on paid holidays shall not be less than the minimum rates fixed for such work under any other law for the time being in force.

Section 6 - Power to declare minimum rates of wages.

(1) Upon receipt of a recommendation of the Board under section 4 or section 5, the Provincial Government may,—
(a) by notification in the official Gazette, declare that the minimum rates of wages recommended by the Board for the various workers shall, subject to such exceptions as may be specified in the notification, be the minimum rates of wage for such workers; or
(b) if it considers that the recommendation is not in any respect, equitable to the employers or the workers, within thirty days of such receipt, refer it back to the Board for reconsideration with such comments thereon and giving such information relating thereto as the Provincial Government may think fit to make or give.
(2) Where a recommendation is referred back to the Board under clause (b) of sub-section (1), the Board shall reconsider it after taking into account the comments made and information given by the Provincial Government and, if necessary, shall hold further enquiry and submit to such Government—
(a) a revised recommendation, or
(b) if it considers that no revision or change in the recommendation is called for, make report to that effect stating reasons therefor.
(3) Upon receipt of the recommendation of the Board under sub-section (2), the Provincial Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the minimum rates of wages recommended under that sub-section by the Board for various workers shall, subject to such modifications and exceptions as may be specified in the notification, be the minimum rates of wages for such workers.
(4) Unless any date is specified for the purpose in the notification under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3), the declaration thereunder shall take effect on the date of publication of such notification.
(5) Where after the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) or after the minimum rates of wages declared thereunder have taken effect, it comes to the notice of the Provincial Government that there is a mistake in the minimum rates of wages so declared, or that any such rate is inequitable to the employers or the workers, it may refer the matter to the Board and any such reference shall be deemed to be a reference under sub-section (2).
(7) The minimum rates of wages declared under this section shall be final and shall not in any manner be questioned by any person in any Court or before any authority.