Workers’ unions meet Gopal Rai to hike minimum wages

 Representatives of the various labour and worker unions sought a 30 – 40 per cent hike in the minimum wages on Thursday. The representatives, who met Delhi Labour minister Gopal Rai on the issue of minimum wages, submitted a memorandum in this regard. Earlier, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in a letter to the minister stated that 30-40 per cent 

hike in wages may lead to shifting out of several industries from the national Capital.

The Delhi government, which has constituted a 13-member tripartite body to discuss the revision of minimum wages, had received the final report from the body on Thursday.

The body comprises employee representatives and employers’ representatives and government representatives/officers headed by Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Labour). The representatives of 

the various bodies who met the minister included Shramik Vikas Sangathan, DTC Shramik Vikas Sangathan, Mandi Shramik Vikas Sangathan and contract employees in various factories, GTB Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital, Rohini, Hedgewar Hospital, IBHAS, LNJP hospital, Delhi Metro, NDPL, BSES, DTC Cluster Bus and all Mandis in Delhi.

The representatives in the memorandum have sought a 30 – 40 per cent hike in the minimum wages. They submitted that the cost of living in Delhi is much higher than other states and it is difficult to survive on the current wage rate.