Eye on 2016, Gogoi hikes minimum wages

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Nov 3: With 2016 assembly elections drawing ever closer, the ruling Congress fine-tuning its politics of yarn and blanket, is now making a move to reach out to daily wage earners.

Following directives from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the Labour and Employment department has hiked the wages of workers engaged in different employments on Tuesday.

In a statement to the media, it has been informed that, as a move designed to provide succor to thousands of employees and workers, the Labour and Employment department has hiked the wages of the highly skilled, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.  As per the new notification, wages for the skilled workers has been hiked from Rs 208 per day to Rs 350, for semi skilled from Rs 150 to Rs 280 and for unskilled from Rs 130 to Rs 240.

Moreover, the government has introduced a new segment called highly skilled job and Rs 450 per day has been earmarked for this class of workers.  In addition to this, the notification entitled the employees and workers to Variable Dearness Allowance at 100 per cent over the rise and fall of index point in the All India Consumer Price Index.

It may be mentioned that the hike will be applicable for the employees and workers engaged in various employments like bakery, industry, carpentry, earth-filling, LPG distribution, petrol pumps, hotels, restaurants etc.