LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Private entities aim to maximise profit, and this sometimes leads them to curtail workers’ rights. One common instance of this is not paying workers their rightful wages.
The law ensures that such profit-driven malpractices are curbed. For instance, there’s a legal mandate for minimum wages, ensuring workers are not underpaid. The law’s purpose here is to create a level playing field and prevent exploitation.
But laws on paper aren’t sufficient. They need enforcement. The government’s duty extends beyond creating laws; it also involves ensuring that they are implemented.
This enforcement is particularly important when the law aims to shield the weaker sections from exploitation by powerful entities. For example, even if there’s a law on minimum wages, if employers continue to underpay without any fear of repercussions, the law remains ineffective.
When workers are in a vulnerable position, either due to poverty or a lack of alternative employment opportunities, they might be forced to settle for wages below the standard. This dynamic allows employers to exploit them further.