Only 10% workers get minimum wage: BJP

NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition Vijender Gupta has questioned the government’s decision to increase minimum wages in the city as it has not been able to implement the existing structure.
“We welcome the government’s decision but I would like to question whether it can be implemented. Even now private firms working with the government are not paying the existing wages.A large number of these employees are working at Delhi Secretariat and Old Secretariat,” said Gupta, adding that the AAP government had not taken action against any errant company or contractor.
Thousands of workers employed at liquor shops are also being made to sign for specific wages but are being paid much less, he alleged. The city has 60 lakh eligible workers but only 10% get the actual wage, claimed Gupta.
He, however, emphasised that the government should ensure that industries didn’t shift to the neighbouring states with much lower minimum wages. “Delhi has 24 labour laws but only 10-11 labour inspectors. In 1970s, the labour department had 570 employees but today it has just 170. Is the government prepared to deal with labour issues to be created by the new rules?” asked Gupta.
In response, labour minister Gopal Rai said the government was committed to implement the new structure revising the minimum wage from Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,000. Implementation of previous structures, Rai said, was lackadaisical as penalty provisions were weak with a fine of Rs 500 and a jail term of six months. “We have proposed to increase the fine to Rs 50,000 and the jail term to three years.”
The Bill was among those returned by the Centre on technical grounds. Rai said the government was planning to draft a policy to ensure that all these workers get their stipulated wages.