The Labour Minister proposes to have the minimum wages enhanced before the coming Assembly Session. Even industries take years to finalise wage demands! Without having any political party putting this in their agenda the trade unions are able to get this in the first session itself. How? This can come only from a ‘what do I get’ mantra which translates to migrant vote banks. That minimum wages need to be increased goes without saying. However, there are various categories that need to have separate wages based on education and hardship including Goa’s category.
The union leaders are quite sharp, and we need to watch ‘who’ decides the rate? The cool way the leaders spoke on the current DA of Re 0.95 per day per point per year to Rs 1.35 is huge. What are the current base points today? In short: what are the final take home wages? Also, they should insist industry use only qualified ITI certificate holders. What is important is this will not have a bearing on the salaries of non-labour classes like engineers and other graduates. What use is IIT and 5 Engg. Colleges in Goa? These salaries need to be changed otherwise cheap management companies will hire only outsiders with their employees saving money by staying 8+ in appartments.
