SOHRA: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Meghalaya State Council (MSC) has rejected the Department of Labour’s hike of minimum wages, calling it inadequate. The decision to enhance the minimum wages was taken during the two-day cabinet retreat held at Sohra last week.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, AITUC MSC secretary R Thabah pointed out that during the meeting of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board chaired by Principal Secretary of Labour Department C Songate on August 6 last year, it was agreed that the minimum wages of unskilled workers, semi-skilled workers, skilled workers, and highly skilled workers will be increased to Rs 681, Rs 749, Rs 824, and Rs 906, respectively.
Thabah recalled that they were satisfied with the enhancement considering the rising prices of essential commodities. He said people would still be able to manage if the government increased the minimum wages as agreed upon during that meeting.
Earlier, the All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers and Labour Union (AJMRWLU) had threatened to launch a massive agitation in the event of the government’s failure to revise the floor basic rate within the stipulated period.
Seeking the CM’s urgent intervention to ensure justice and fairness for all workers, union general secretary Weget Well Ramut said the approved rates fail to align with inflation and do not reflect the appropriate base floor rate.
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