WAGE DISPARITIES IN INDIA AND BRIDGING THE GENDER GAP 3 2

ROLE OF JUDICIARY AND STATUTORY SAFEGUARDS

Abstract

Wage disparities refer to the unequal distribution of wealth among citizens of a country. There are many factors which contribute to wage disparities like huge population working in unorganized sectors, prevailing economic conditions like poverty, unemployment. There is gender gap pertaining to wage disparities where women are paid less for the same amount of work men perform. Globalization and Privatization worsened the wage inequalities. World has witnessed the rise of the gig economy coupled with low paying jobs, lack of incentives from the government for employment. Workers must balance their wages with the increasing inflation rates of essential commodities. There are statutory safeguards pertaining to securing the prices of essential commodities like Essential Commodities Act of 1955, but these statutes have implementation gaps. Modern economies of the world are shifting towards promoting the interests of capitalists, imposing a toll on welfare of workers. Capitalists maximize the profits by reducing the wages paid to workers. This paper explores the urban-rural divide pertaining to wages and what safeguards should be ensured to protect their socio- economic status. Wage disparities is a multifaceted issue and solutions must be based on a multidisciplinary approach. In India, rural populations depend on agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture which are low paying in nature and there is no job security for them. This paper focuses on how statutes like Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and other statutes ensure safeguards for employment in various sectors, the constitutional mechanism and role of judiciary in upholding the socio-economic rights of workers.