LEGAL REGULATION OF WAGES, GUARANTEES AND COMPENSATIONS

Abstract

A predictable and transparent wage system is a foundational element of social stability and sustainable economic growth. Yet, despite widespread ratification of International Labour Organization conventions, national approaches to regulating remuneration, wage guarantees, and compensatory payments remain strikingly heterogeneous. This study examines legal mechanisms governing wages in civil‐law and common‐law jurisdictions, with particular attention to statutory minimum wage rules, wage protection safeguards, and compensations for overtime, hazardous work, and unjust dismissal. Relying on doctrinal analysis of primary statutes, judicial decisions, and international instruments, as well as a comparative survey of enforcement data from Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, Germany, and the United States, the article evaluates the effectiveness of distinct regulatory models in securing timely and adequate remuneration. Findings indicate that statutory norms achieve limited results unless paired with institutional guarantees such as labour inspection autonomy, affordable dispute resolution, and automatic indexation clauses. The study concludes that hybrid regulatory designs—combining mandatory minima, sectoral bargaining, and real‐time wage data disclosure—offer the best prospects for balancing employer flexibility and worker protection.