4. Object of the Act
The Equal Remuneration Act,
1976 aims to provide for the payment
of equal remuneration to men and
women workers and for the prevention
of discrimination, on the ground of sex,
against women in the matter of
employment and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto.
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5. Constitutional provisions
The principle of equal work to men and women
worker has been gaining increasing acceptance all
over the world. In many countries, law have been
passed prohibiting discrimination between men and
women in matters relating to payment of wages for
similar work.
The D.P. State Policy article 39 (d) of the Constitution
envisages that the State shall direct its policy, among
other things, towards securing that there is equal pay
for equal work for both men and women.
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6. Article 16(2) makes a specific mention that “no
citizen shall on ground only of ….sex …be ineligible
for or discrimination against in respect of any
employment or office under state.”
In the International Women’s Year, the President of
India promulgated the Equal Remuneration
Ordinance, 1975 on 26th September, 1975 to
provide for the payment of equal remuneration to
men and women workers
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7. The Statute
I. Preliminary (1- 3)
II. Payment of remuneration at
equal rates to men and
women workers and other
matters (4-7)
III. Miscellaneous (8- 18)
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8. Chapter I (Preliminary)
1. Short title and extent
Called- the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
Whole India
3 years from passing of the Act
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9. 2. Definitions.
Appropriate Government
Commencement of this Act
Employer
Man and woman
Notification
Prescribed
Remuneration
same work or work of a similar nature
Worker
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10. 3. Overriding effect of the Act- The provisions of this
Act Shall Have effect notwithstanding anything
inconsistent therewith contained In any other law
or in the terms of any award, agreement or
contract of service, whether made before or after
this Act
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11. Chapter- II
4. Duty of employer to pay equal remuneration
to men and women workers for same work of
work of a similar nature.
5. No discrimination to be made while
recruiting men and women workers for same
work or any work of similar nature.
Except where the employment of women in
such work is prohibited or restricted by or
under any law.
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12. 6. Advisory Committee
one or more
instituted to provide increasing employment
opportunities
by the appropriate Government
Shall consist of 10 or more members half of
which should be women.
Members nominated by appropriate
Government
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13. 7. Power of appropriate Government to appoint
authorities for hearing and deciding claims and
complaints.
Officer not below the rank of Labour Officer will
be appointed by the appropriate Government for
hearing and deciding claims and complaints
Complaints in contravention of the Act & claims
arising out of non-payment of wages at equal
rates
Will have powers of Civil Court
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14. Chapter- III
8. Duty of employers to maintain registers. -- On and
from the commencement of this Act, every employer
shall maintain such registers and other documents in
relation to the workers employed by him as may be
prescribed.
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15. 9. Inspector
Appointed by appropriate Government
Deemed to be a public servant u/s. 21 of IPC
Powers of inspector
Enter the premises at reasonable time
Ask for the production of muster roll and register
Take evidence to ascertain the adherence of the Act.
Examine employer or any one in-charge
Make copies or take extracts from any document.
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16. 10. Penalties
Simple imprisonment upto one month or fine upto
Rs.10,000 or both when the employer-
omits or falls to maintain any register or other
document in relation to workers.
omits or fails to produce any register, muster-roll or
other document.
omits or refuses to give any evidence or prevents his
agent, servant, etc. from giving evidence, or
omits or refuses to give any Information.
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17. Fine not less than Rs. 10,000 which may extend to Rs.20,000 or
imprisonment not less than 3 months which may extend upto one
year for 1st offence, and upto two years for second and
subsequent offences if any employer-
makes any recruitment In contravention to the provisions of the
Act, or makes any payment of remuneration at unequal rates to
men and women workers, for the same work or work of a similar
nature, or
makes any discrimination between men and women workers in
contravention of the provisions of the Act, or
omits or fails to carry out any direction made by the appropriate
Government under sub-section (5) of section 6.
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18. 11. Offenses by companies: Every person, who at the time of the
offense was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the
company, as well as the company, shall be deemed guilty.
12. Cognizance and trial of the offenses: No court inferior to
Metropolitan Magistrate or a First Class Judicial Magistrate shall try
offenses related to this Act
Take cognizance of an offense when the court receives a complaint
made by the Appropriate Government or an officer duly authorized
by it in its behalf or the person aggrieved by the offenses or by any
recognized welfare institution or organization.
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19. 13 & 14. The central government empowered to make rules for
carrying out the provisions of the Act & give directions to the
state government to carry out any execution related to the law.
15. Act does not apply in certain cases:
When terms and conditions of a women's employment in
complying with the requirements of any law giving special
treatment to women or
Special treatment accorded to women in connection with:
Birth or expected birth of a child, or
Terms & Conditions relating to retirement, marriage or death
or to any provisions made in connection with them
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20. 16. Power to make declaration. -- Where the
appropriate Government is, on a consideration of all
the circumstances of he case, satisfied that the
differences in regard to the remuneration, or a
particular species of remuneration, or men and women
workers in any establishment or employment is based
on a factor other than sex, it may, by notification, make
a declaration to that effect, and any act of the
employer attributable to such a difference shall not be
deemed to be contravention of any provision of this
Act.
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21. 17. Power to remove difficulties. -- If any
difficulty arises in giving effect to the
provisions of this Act, the Central
Government may, by notification, make any
order, not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act, which appears to it to be
necessary for the purpose of removing the
difficulty.
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22. 18. Repeal and saving.
(1) The Equal Remuneration Ordinance, 1975 (12 of
1975) hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any
action taken under the Ordinance, so repealed
(including any notification, nomination, appointment,
order or direction made thereunder) shall be deemed
to have been done or taken under the corresponding
provisions of this Act, as if this Act were in force when
such thing was done or action was taken.
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