The Labour Ministry said the government does not have any such intention to delay the fixation of minimum wages and national floor wages. The government’s clarification comes amid reports that the formation of an expert group with a three-year term is an attempt to delay the fixation of minimum wages and national floor wages.

Earlier this month, the central government constituted an expert group under the chairmanship of renowned economist Professor Ajit Mishra to provide technical inputs and recommendations on the fixation of minimum wages and national floor wage to the government. The tenure of the expert group is three years. 

“It has come to the notice that certain section of the Press and some of the stakeholders have opined this as an attempt to delay the fixation of Minimum Wages and National Floor Wages by the Government. ​This is clarified that Government does not have any such intention and the Expert Group will submit its recommendations to the government as early as possible,” the ministry said in a statement.

The expert group will submit its recommendations to the government as early as possible, it added.

The tenure of the expert group has been kept as three years so that even after the fixation of minimum wages and national floor wages, the government may seek technical inputs, advice from the expert group on the subject, it added. 

The first meeting of this group was held on June 14, 2021, and the second meeting is scheduled for June 29, 2021.