In existing bunch of labour legislations some same terms are defined differently in different legislations, which create confusion and disputes of their interpretations. There was a strong need to rationalize and synchronise such definitions in uniform manner for all purposes. One such very critical term is definition of ‘wages’. An attempt has been made in new Labour Codes to achieve this objective, but there is still room for improvement. Under the new Labour Codes ‘wages’ have been defined as under :-
“Section 2(y) – ‘wages’ means all remuneration whether by way of salaries, allowances or otherwise, expressed in terms of money or capable of being so expressed which would, if the terms of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a person employed in employed in respect of his employment or of work done in such employment, and includes:-
(i) Basic pay;
(ii) Dearness allowance;...
