The terms Competent Authority, Cost of living index number and Employer are explained in the following manner :
Competent Authority
It means the authority appointed by the appropriate government by notification is its official gazette to ascertain from time to time the cost of living index number applicable to the employees in the scheduled employments specified in such notification.
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Cost of living index number
It 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 employees in any scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed.
Employer
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The term ‘employer’ means any person who employs either directly or through another person one or more employees in the scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed. When workers are employed through a contractor, the contractor is an employer within the meaning of the act. But the owner of a place where scheduled employment is carried on is not an employer if he is not connected with such employment.
The term ‘employer’ also includes
(a) Any person named as manager of the factory wherein scheduled employment is carried on;
(b) Any person appointed by the government for the supervision and control of employees in scheduled employments or where no such person is appointed, the head of the department;
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(c) Any person appointed by the local authority for the supervision and control of employees in any of the employments specified in the schedule under its control, or where no such person is appointed, the chief executive officer;
(d) In any other case, any person responsible to the owner for the supervision and control of the employees in scheduled employments or for the payments or for the payment of wages.