Punjab Government's 'reluctance' to implement Minimum Wages Act leaves workers in the lurch

Patiala, June 13

Despite soaring inflation, the Punjab Government has not revised the minimum wage of workers for the past nearly two years. It was September 2020 when last time wages were revised by the state governemnt. In the face of sustained rise in the cost of living, it is incumbent upon the government to raise the wages, say the experts. Based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the state governments — over the past one decade — has continuously been revising the minimum wages, after every six months. The CPI is the key indicator of the inflation.

Currently, minimum monthly wages, fixed for different genres of workers are: Rs 9,192.3 for unskilled worker; Rs 9,972.72 for semiskilled; Rs 10, 869.72 for skilled; and Rs 11,901.72 for high-skilled workers.

Amandeep Singh, a highly skilled worker, said, “The prices of food items and fuel have already skyrocketed, but government is not bothered. The government should immediately revise the rates of minimum wages and implement that in its letter and spirit.”

Vijay Walia, an activist fighting for the workers, said, “Around 50 lakh workers and families thereof, in the state, have to bear the brunt of the state government’s apathy.” Meanwhile, SS Gurjar, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, said, “Rates have not been revised for the past 1.5 years. These will be revised very soon.”

Departments not adhering to minimum wage

Meanwhile, The Tribune has learnt that several departments of the government are not even giving the minimum wages that have been fixed by them only.

A worker, who is working at Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Depot in Patiala, said, “Not to talk about the failure of the government to increase the wages, we are not even getting minimum wages fixed by the government. Action should be taken against the respective employers who are not adhering to the Minimum Wages Act.”

Another worker, a highly skilled, said, “We are getting Rs 11,291 per month against the minimum wages that are fixed at Rs 11, 901 i.e. around Rs 600 less than the fixed rates.”