Haryana: Panel formed to recommend hike in minimum wages

There is something to cheer about for labour class employees -- the Nayab Singh Saini government has constituted a high-level committee to recommend hike in minimum wages.

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To be constituted under the chairmanship of Paramjit Singh Dhull, Joint Labour Commissioner, the committee will have five employers’ representations, five workers’ representatives and two subject experts. “The committee will hold inquiries and advise the state government in respect of fixation or revision of minimum wages in Haryana,” a notification issued by Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, said.

According to the terms of references of the committee, the committee will undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders. Besides, it will study wage structures in the neighbouring states for comparison. The committee is mandated to submit its recommendations within 90 days of its constitution or notification.

The committee will be headquartered at Chandigarh and there is a provision of travelling/ dearness allowance for non-official members of the committee.

The fixation of the minimum wages is usually done according to the wholesale price index (WPI) in Haryana. “The WPI and other criteria for the fixation of the minimum wages would be taken into consideration while working out the fresh minimum wages,” a senior officer said.

Currently, the minimum wages for unskilled workers are pegged at Rs 11,257.12 per month at Rs 432.97 per day. For sub-category A in the semi-skilled category, the rate has been fixed at Rs 11,819.94 monthly with a daily wage of Rs 454.61. In the sub-category B, the wages have been calculated at Rs 12,410.91 per month, the daily wage being Rs 477.34.

For sub-category A in the skilled category, the rates are Rs 13,031— the daily rate being Rs 501. For sub-category B in the skilled category, the rate is pegged at Rs 13,683—the daily rate being Rs 526. The highly-skilled employees currently get Rs 14,367 per month—Rs 552 daily.

Meanwhile, a sub-committee has also been constituted to recommend minimum wages for the brick-kiln workers under Vishwapreet Singh Hooda, Deputy Labour Commissioner. The committee will have two employees’ representatives, workers’ representatives and subject experts each.