The Equal Remuneration Act

 The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

It would be very discriminatory in nature if one individual gets more paid for

the same work as done by another individual. Same is in the case of woman

compared to man. They do the same work as their male counterparts but paid

less than them or it can also be said as men are paid more than women. This is

not equality which should be there as we are living in the 21 st century and every

individual is same under the eyes of law. There should be no discrimination on

the basis of gender. Just because a woman do work, it does not mean that should

be paid less. The work is same and done in the same manner and it required

same kind of efforts and challenges from the individual’s side. It is because of

this discrimination present in the society that the law was introduced in 1976 to

promise equal remuneration to women and stop exploitation against them.

According to the Act, it provides for payment of remuneration at equal rates to

both men and women workers and everything of that sort. The employer does

not have this right to discriminate among its employees on the basis of sex.

Also, there should be no discrimination while recruiting them except some

places which are hazardous in nature. In that case, women cannot be employed

but in any other case they should not be rejected just on the basis that they are

women. It is against the law and anyone found doing that will be punished after

proper investigation stated in Section 8 of the Act which says:

a) Checking of the time that is the employer invites the employee at

reasonable hours.

b) Checking of any official or unofficial document for the purpose of

examination.

c) May call for evidence at any point.

d) Examining the employer.

e) Make copies of the requisite documents for attaching or investigating.

If any loophole will be present then the employer will be subject to penalties.

As per Section 10 of the Act, these loopholes are defined:

a) Fails to maintain a register.

b) Fails to produce the register when required.

c) Refuses or omits to give evidence as per requisitions.

d) Refuses to give any information.

e) Makes any recruitment in contravention of the provisions of this Act

f) Makes payment at unequal rates.

g) Makes any discrimination on the basis of the sex.

h) Fails to carry out any direction as mentioned in the Act.

The penalties which will be imposed in above mentioned cases will be 10,000

which shall be the least. It may even extend to 20,000 or imprisonment not less

than 3 months which can also be extended to one year. In any case, the

punishment will increase according to the offence.

Therefore, these are important things which should be always kept in mind

while recruiting and running a business of that sort. There should be equality

because women are not less than men. They also do the same hard work for the

work to be done and that is why should also be paid in the same way. Women

are not demanding more, they are just demanding to be equal.