Further decisions after Dec 15: Rai

New Delhi: The AAP-led Delhi government is expected to give a final push to the minimum wage program before the upcoming state election. The government has instructed all the departments to gather the ground data on the issue and on December 15, all the departments will present the data to the Labour Department of the Delhi government.

Labour Minister Gopal Rai said, "The minimum wage is still under process, after December 15, we will take further decisions. As for the bonus implementation we recently held a meeting and discussed the issue and after December 15, we will see the ground reports and come to a conclusion."

In October, 2019, the Supreme Court upheld Delhi government's March, 2017, statement that announced a 37 per cent hike in minimum wages for workers. The case had been pending for almost two years in court before the judgement was finally given in favour of Delhi's government proposal on minimum wage.

According to a government official, all permanent, fixed term, contractual, casual as well as daily wage workers will benefit from the apex court's order. The Delhi government had proposed Rs 14,842 per month for unskilled workers and Rs 16,341 per month for clerical and supervisory staff (non matriculates who fall under the semi-skilled category). Meanwhile, skilled workers who are not graduates are expected to get a minimum wage of Rs 17,991 and skilled workers who have graduated or have completed higher studies beyond graduation and above will get Rs 19,572, an official report stated.

The Minimum Wages Advisory Board (MWAB) was constituted in January, 2019 with the approval of the LG of Delhi after receiving nomination from various organisations. The MWAB consists of 15 members of industry bodies and trade unions, 15 from market associations, and five government officials. The Board has conducted four meetings so far to discuss the subject of wage revision after taking into account all the suggestions received from various stakeholders.