CM assures wage hike for workers

Itagar, Aug 5: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured a hike in wages of casual and contingency staff working under the state government as per the ‘new wage code bill’ approved by the Union Cabinet last month.

Addressing workers from across the State at the Tennis Court in IG Park here, the Chief Minister assured implementation of enhanced wages as and when the Parliament passes the new wage code bill.

“In case the new wage bill fails to come up in this monsoon session of Parliament for approval or in the next session, the state government will come up with a good wage package in the next budget session of the State,” he said Khandu announced a gratuitous relief of Rs 2,000 for the labourers during the mega rally cum mass general meeting of the joint working committee of Aruchal Pradesh Trade Unions (JWCAPTU).

He said the state government had hiked labour wages by Rs 1,000 consecutively in the last two budget sessions and assured that the working class would never face injustice under his leadership.

On labour welfare, the Chief Minister assured a corrective policy on voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), adding that implementation of such scheme in PWD department had failed. He also assured to implement 50 per cent job reservation to regularise casual and contingency staff.

The Chief Minister further pointed out that the muster roll system has been abolished in the forest and environment department through an order released by PCCF, which will eble labour wages to be directly deposited in the worker’s account.

On compassiote appointment, the Chief Minister assured that a clear-cut policy will be brought out to address such issues. He also assured to bring out a policy decision for streamlining the worker’s welfare board. In addition, he agreed to the workers’ demand for implementation of colour code for taxis.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein said that the state government had increased the honorarium of Angandwadi workers to Rs 4,500 per month and Anganwadi helpers to Rs 3,000 per month.

Informing about various initiatives for working community, he appealed to them to actively participate in implementation of various State and tiol development programmes.