A Bill seeking to amend Working Journalists Act was today passed by the Delhi Assembly paving way for effecting changes in the law to ensure "effective implementation" of the Majithia Wage Board awards and to provide penal provision in case of non-adherence to the Act.
Along with the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2015 the Assembly also passed Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill, 2015.
The Working Journalists Bill seeks to address the "shortcomings" in providing adequate compensation and strengthens the penal provision in cases of non-adherence to the Act.
According to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi is the first state government in the country to introduce changes in the law to ensure effective implementation of the Wage Board.
The proposed Amendments to Section 18 of the Act stipulates imprisonment of up to six months and fine which may extend to Rs 5,000 for non-payment of the due wages to an employee.
Further, they envisage more stringent penal provision under Section 18 (1) and 18 (1A) which include imprisonment as well as provisions of enhanced fine which will provide an effective deterrence for the violators of the Act.
According to the amendment, the words "punishable with fine which may extend to Rs 500" shall be substituted by the words "punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to Rs 10,000".
Violation of labour norms in the national capital will attract stringent punishment like higher fines and imprisonment in the Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill, 2015.
The proposed Bill has also recommended imprisonment of up to three years and penalty amounting Rs 50,000 for violators.
Under the proposed amendments to the Act, companies will have to upload the data of their employees on website or web portal in the manner as may be prescribed by the Delhi government.
The Bills were passed in the Assembly by the voice of votes.
