Four Labour Codes 2020 — Set 18

Correct Answer: C. Rs 21,000/month

Under the Code on Wages 2019, employees drawing wages up to Rs 21,000 per month are eligible for bonus. For the purpose of calculating bonus, wages are capped at Rs 7,000 per month or the minimum wage (whichever is higher). The Rs 21,000 ceiling was set by an amendment to the Payment of Bonus Act in 2015 and retained in the code.

Correct Answer: C. Women can work in mines above or below ground with their consent and safety provisions

The OSHWC Code 2020 allows women to work in mines both above and below ground, subject to their consent and with appropriate safety measures. This is a liberalisation from the earlier Mines Act 1952, which prohibited women from working underground in mines. The change reflects the gender neutrality approach of the code, while mandating that adequate safety provisions are in place for women miners.

Correct Answer: A. Code on Wages (universal minimum wage)

The Code on Wages 2019 is most likely to benefit agricultural workers because its universal minimum wage concept applies to all workers regardless of sector, including those in agriculture. Under the earlier Minimum Wages Act, coverage of agricultural workers depended on whether agriculture was included in the scheduled employment list of each state, leading to uneven protection. The code's universal application potentially extends minimum wage protection to all agricultural workers.

Correct Answer: D. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code

The Motor Transport Workers Act 1961 is one of the 13 laws consolidated under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020. This act previously regulated hours of work, rest periods, leave, and welfare facilities for motor transport workers. Its consolidation into the OSHWC Code brings uniform standards for motor transport workers alongside those in factories, mines, and other sectors.

Correct Answer: C. Both Parliament and states have legislative competence; states must frame their own rules

Since Labour is in the Concurrent List, both the Parliament (which passed the four Labour Codes) and State Legislatures have legislative competence over labour matters. For the Labour Codes to be implemented, states must frame their own rules covering procedural matters like registration fees, inspection schedules, and forms. In case of conflict between central codes and state rules, the central codes prevail. This federal structure has been a key reason for the delayed implementation.

Correct Answer: C. Comprehensive medical care including hospitalisation, medicine, and specialist treatment

ESIC under the Code on Social Security 2020 provides comprehensive medical care to insured workers and their dependants, including outpatient treatment, inpatient hospitalisation, specialist consultations, medicines, and maternity care. Workers covered by ESIC can access treatment at ESIC hospitals and dispensaries or through empanelled private hospitals. This is funded through contributions from employers (3.25% of wages) and employees (0.75% of wages).

Correct Answer: D. Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code

The Cine-Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act 1981 is one of the 13 laws merged under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020. This act had regulated the employment conditions of cine-workers and cinema theatre workers. The OSHWC Code now provides a unified framework for such workers alongside those in more traditional industries.

Correct Answer: B. Temporary inability of employer to provide work due to shortage of materials, power, or breakdown

Under the Industrial Relations Code 2020 (and the earlier Industrial Disputes Act), a lay-off refers to the temporary inability of an employer to provide work to a worker due to shortage of coal, power, raw materials, breakdown of machinery, or any other reason beyond the employer's control. During a lay-off, workers are not terminated but are temporarily out of work. They are entitled to lay-off compensation (usually 50% of basic wages) if they have worked for at least one year.

Correct Answer: A. 12 days per year (1 day per 20 working days if worked 240 days)

Under the OSHWC Code 2020, a worker in a factory who has worked for 240 days in a calendar year earns 1 day of annual leave for every 20 days worked, resulting in 12 days of earned leave for a full year. This is consistent with the Factories Act 1948. Workers who have not worked 240 days do not qualify for annual leave for that year but may carry forward unused leave from previous years.

Correct Answer: B. Workers can access ESIC and EPF benefits across states through their UAN and ESIC numbers

The Code on Social Security 2020 promotes portability of social security benefits for inter-state migrant workers. With a Universal Account Number (UAN) for EPF and ESIC insured person number, workers can access their provident fund and health insurance benefits regardless of which state they move to for work. The self-registration portal for migrant workers further enables tracking and portability of welfare scheme benefits across states.