It is hereby enacted as follows :-

1. Short title and extent -(1) This Act may be called the Minimum Wages Act. 1948. (2) Ii Extends *[to the whole of India (except the State of Jammu and Kashmir) ]

2. Interpretation.-In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject of context,-

(a) "adult", "adolescent" and "child" have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 2 of the Factories Act, 1948 (LXIII of 1948)

(b) "appropriate Government" means-

(i) in relation to any scheduled employment carried on by or under the authority of the ** Central Government or a Railway administration ** or in relation to a mine. Oilfield or major port, or any corporation established by a $ Central Act, the Central Government ; and

(ii) in relation to any scheduled employment, the *State Government ;

(c) "competent authority" means the authority appointed by the appropriate Government by notification in its Official Gazette to ascertain from time to time the cost of living index number applicable to the employees employed in the scheduled employments specified in such notification ;

(d) "cost of living index number" in relation to employee in any scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixe, means the index number ascertained and declared by the competent authority by notification in the Official Gazette to be the cost of living index number applicable to employee in such employment:

(e) "employer" means an person who employs, whether directly or through another person, or whether on behalf of himself or any other person, one or more employees in any scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed under this Act, and includes expect in sub-section (3) of section 26-

(i) in a factory where their is carried on any schedule employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed under this Act, any person named under clause (f) of sub-section (1) of sub-section 7 of the Factories Act, 1948) (LXIII of 1948)$ as manager of the factory ;

(ii) in any scheduled employment under the control of any Government in India in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed under this Act, the person or authority appointed by such Government for the supervision and control of employee or where no person or authority is so appointed, the head of the Department :