In a move that will benefit millions of unskilled workers across the country, the current Indian government is about to make its first significant foray into labour reform. On May 1st, the country’s minister of labour, Santosh Gangwar, told the Press Trust of India that a Parliamentary standing committee had finalised a policy draft of the Wage Code Bill 2017, and that the bill would be debated for passage in the next session of Parliament commencing in July. 

The bill largely aims to set a minimum wage for different geographical regions in India. It was introduced in the lower house of Parliament (Lok Sabha) in August last year before being referred to a standing committee- the second step in the process of a bill becoming an act. 
Once the bill is implemented, a state government will not be allowed to set a minimum wage below the central government’s benchmark for that industry.