NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday assured the labourers of taking action against those who are not abiding by the minimum wage norms. He also urged all the labourers to send their children to school and assured that the government is taking steps to make its schools at par with the private schools. "We will take strict action against those not abiding by minimum wage norms for labours," Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering on the occasion of Labour Day.
The CM argued that the hiring of workers on a contractual basis leads to their exploitation at the hands of contractors. He said, "We (Delhi government) raised the minimum wage to Rs 13,500. Many workers have started getting their wages but I see that still there are many contractors who don't pay their workers the correct amount. The High Court is yet to decide whether Delhi government has the power to take action against those contractors who do not pay workers enough. I am certain that the court will rule in favour of the workers and when it does, I will be on the street myself to catch the offenders."
The CM claimed that the government lost six months in trying to get their proposal for raising the minimum wage cleared by the Lieutenant Governor, but added that he was willing to fight because "the rich did not vote for me, the poor did."