In a recent event that was held at the IMC Chambers in Churchgate, a seminar was conducted by Adv. Vedika Puri, Adv. Sandeep  Puri, Adv. Ravi Paranjpe and Sougata Ghosh on the topic 'New Wage Code 2019'.  

Adv. Sandeep Puri stated that the bill that was passed in July 2019 will herald a new milestone benefiting the 50 crore workers in the unorganised sector. The Code which has subsumed the four prevailing labour welfare Acts, viz., Payment of wages Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act and the Equal Remuneration Act, now covers 100% workers, has been simplified and rationalized compared to earlier Acts.

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Mr Puri further dealt in detail the various definitions and changes made in the new Bill when compared with the earlier four Acts. One of the major developments  has been the change of definition of Worker,  which now includes all employees. It has also brought in the sales promotion professionals, and contractors working for any state or central govt or body,  for the first time under the ambit of the new Bill. 

A simplified revised definition of minimum wage, which hitherto was subject to judicial interpretation in every case of suit filing,  will now include Basic +DA+ Retention Allowance, and 50% of Basic + DA would be used for handling all calculations. The new Code also clarifies the definition of Overtime, which would now be twice of wages. 

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