In Brief
The Court examined two notifications by Haryana fixing/revising minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Court held that while the Government can fix and revise minimum wage rates, it cannot: (1) categorize workers as semi-skilled or skilled based solely on experience, as this alters contract terms beyond its jurisdiction; (2) segregate minimum wages into components as allowances; (3) include security supervisors or unpaid trainees as employees; or (4) restrict training periods. The Court clarified that the Act only empowers wage fixing, not alteration of other contractual terms, and approved contractor coverage.
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