218 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
and that the number of members whose presence shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the Committee shall be five.”
Mr. N. M. Joshi : …….. Sir, the Hon’ble Member has also introduced certain other amendments, one of them regarding permitting certain deductions for absence.
- The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have only given the definition of absence. I have not permitted deductions : they are already there.
Mr. N. M. Joshi : I know. The Honourable Member is a very simple man. He has changed the definition of absence with the result that certain deductions may be permitted. The original Act permits deductions for absence up to a certain point. The deductions may be made for the actual time lost or work not done. But if this Amendment is made, and if I understand it rightly, it is quite possible for an employer to impose double fine on the employee.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: That is not correct.
Mr. N. M. Joshi: All right. We shall discuss it at the proper time. What may happen is this : an employee is absent for an hour. He cannot turn out work for that hour and therefore if he is paid on piece rate his wages are automatically reduced. Besides receiving less wages, it is quite possible that if this Amendment is made, the man’s wages may be deducted still further.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: No, no.
@ The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. Deputy President, if it can help to curtail the debate, I should like to state at this stage that I am prepared to accept the amendment.
†The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, as I have said, I am prepared to accept the motion made by my friend Mr. Joshi. In that event, it is unnecessary for me to make any speech. All that I would
*Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V, 16th November, 1944, pp. 896.
@ Ibid., p. 901.
† Ibid., p. 902.