A law student from Jamia Millia Islamia, Md Imran Ahmad, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to enforce labour laws, ensure minimum wage protection, and terminate bonded labour in Delhi. The plea has also requested the state government to monitor online payments made to employees and ensure they receive the minimum wage set by the government.
The Delhi High Court has sought the government’s response to the PIL and listed the matter for a hearing on May 23. Ahmad, who filed the PIL, claimed that he did it for the benefit of workers and labourers employed in Delhi. The plea stated that the non-payment of minimum wage is affecting the fundamental rights of labourers, including the right to life, health, and dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The PIL also requests the state government to stop allowing individuals, companies, organisations, or establishments to advertise job vacancies that pay salaries below the minimum wage on the government’s official portal or otherwise. The petitioner referred to a previous order of the Delhi government in October 2022 that outlined the minimum wage to be paid to unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers.
The petitioner also alleged that he had contacted the Delhi government concerning the lawful payment of wages to its employees, but it failed to respond or take any action. The plea claims that job advertisements for various posts, such as office boy, cook, waiter, computer operator, delivery boy, kitchen helper, and ambulance driver, are being posted on the government portal with salaries below the minimum wage set by the state government, thereby violating its order.
