A Legal Study on Equal Pay for Equal Work

The aim of the Constitution of India is to maintain social, economic, and political justice. Economic justice is the most critical. For a democracy to be factual, both equality and justice are required. Therefore, the constitution ensures that everyone has the same status and opportunities.

Economic justice reveals that individuals will have no partiality about how much they are worth. This means equal pay for equal work, and everyone should get their fair share for the work.

Article 39(d) of the Indian Constitution says that men and women should get the same pay for the same work, which means that the State will ensure that men and women get the same pay for the same work they do.

Right of an employee: equal pay for equal work

The ‘equal pay for equal work‘ principle states that everyone should get the same pay if they do the same work, regardless of gender, caste, or religion. The principle states that preferential treatment should be avoided.

This principle guarantees that the same job should pay the same amount to all individuals. This does not mean that all jobs should pay the same amount, but there should not be any disparity in terms of wages paid.

Any action that pays less than others in the same situation is a form of exploitative enslavement from a position of power. Such action is oppressive, repressive, and coercive because it forces people to submit against their will.

Current laws on equal pay for equal work

Article 39(d) of the Constitution said that male and female workers should be given the same wages and salaries, and that women should not be treated differently at work because of their gender.

The Equality Act of 2010 states that women and men should get the same pay for the same amount of work, and this applies to everyone in the same job and includes equal pay and all other terms of their contract.

The government passed the Code on Wages of 2019 to set rules for how wages and bonuses should be paid in all industries, trades, businesses, and factories. The primary cause for making this code was that laws like the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, were no longer relevant in the modern world. Therefore, updating earlier laws was necessary.

All employees will have to follow the code. The central government will determine wages for jobs in railways, mines, and other places, and the state governments will determine wages for all other jobs. Employers cannot pay less than the minimum wage. The central or state governments can change and review the minimum wages only once every five years. While setting minimum wages, the central or state government may consider:

• how skilled the workers are, and
• how hard the work is.

The code makes it illegal to treat men and women differently in terms of pay and hiring to do the same or similar jobs as the work of a similar kind requires the same level of expertise, diligence, experience, and responsibility.

Gender pay gap and struggle for equal pay

The term ‘gender pay gap’ refers to the difference between how much women and men earn in work. A tendency always exists to pay women less than men for similar work, which is unfair and wrong and against the Constitution.

All Indian citizens are equal in the eyes of the law, and it is illegal and a crime to treat one citizen differently than another. Therefore, both by nature and by the law, women should have the same rights as men.

Measure to be taken by an employer

• To avoid discrimination, no employer should pay wages to a worker at a rate less favourable than the wage provided to the opposite sex’s employees in the same business for equal or identical work.
• No employer may discriminate against women while hiring for the same job or in any service condition (unless women’s employment in that job is forbidden or limited by or under any legislation)
• Every employer must keep necessary records and registrations about employees they employ.

An exception to equal pay for equal work

The right to equal pay for equal work is essential, but it is not a universal right; several exceptions exist. Although these exceptions are not mentioned, some exceptions have emerged from various judicial decisions.

Using the factors of responsibility, dependability, and secrecy, the Supreme Court of India concluded in F.A.I.C and C.E.S. v. Union of India (1988) 3 SCC 91 that different pay rates may be established for government employees holding the same position and performing identical work. The court states that equal remuneration is based on the quality of the labour performed, not just the quantity. There may be a range of quality regarding reliability and accountability.

According to the Supreme Court’s decision in Mewa Ram v. A.I.I.M.S, AIR 1989 SC 1256, equal pay for equal work does not apply in tasks and functions that are identical but differ in educational criteria needed for both. Consequently, different pay may be granted to audiologists and hearing therapists in AIIMS because of their academic qualifications.

In Associated Bank Officers Association v. State Bank of India, AIR 1998 SC 32, the court concluded that state bank officials and branch officers are not comparable in their obligations as State Bank of India employees. Therefore, the premise of equal compensation for the equal effort was ruled invalid.

Flaws in Indian law

Despite several legislative, administrative, and judicial initiatives, the problem of unequal compensation for equal work persists in India. Several efforts have been made still, but concrete legislation is yet to be devised. Furthermore, factors such as a lack of knowledge and a standard interpretation of the law are obstacles to eliminating the wage gap.

There is a need for awareness among people of the legislation and how to implement it. The government should spread awareness among people regarding equal pay for equal work as a fundamental right declared by courts.

Suggestions to ensure equal pay for equal work

• In India, equal compensation for equal labour is enshrined in legislation. Awareness should be prioritised and changes should be made at the societal level to eliminate inequality between men and women.
• Changes should be made to equal pay rules and collective bargaining agreements.
• The notion of ‘Income Justice’ was propounded by the premise of equal compensation for equal effort. Raising the wealth of the oppressed class and eliminating any pay hierarchy based on criteria such as gender are the two ways to accomplish income justice.
• Gender, caste, creed, and religion cannot determine the foundation for salary disparity under the legislation. Workplaces may still discriminate against women planning for pregnancy or marriage; these practices are inhumane and should be outlawed immediately.

Conclusion

Human beings have always sought equality in terms of work and money to achieve a reasonable level of life. Society’s pay standards should not be so low that no one can afford to work or make a living. The most pressing issue is the disparity in remuneration among workers in the same industry.

The principle of equal pay for equal work was recognised by the Supreme Court of India in several cases as low-paying jobs lead people to think that their wages were due to their social status, class, caste, or gender. This socio-economic norm should be adjusted to uphold justice.