Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has given a “Holi gift” to the city’s labour class. He has approved 37 per cent hike in the minimum wages of labours and termed it a “Holi gift”. However, Lt. Governor Anil Baijal will have a final call on it. The cabinet’s decision will be put before LG on February 27 for clearance.
Kejriwal said, “this is a very big and historic decision. With this, we are directly putting money into the pocket of poor people.”
“We are sending this file to LG sir (Anil Baijal) and are very hopeful about its approval. I will personally go and meet him in this connection. If LG approves this proposal, then it will be a Holi gift to the labourers in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
Addressing the press conference, the Delhi Chief Minister said, “the minimum wages for unskilled labour in Delhi currently stands at Rs 9,724 per month, which has been increased to Rs 13,350.”
“For semi-skilled and skilled persons, the minimum wage would be increased from Rs 10,764 to Rs 14,698 and from Rs 11,830 to Rs 16,182, respectively,” he said.
Revision in the minimum wages were done on the recommendation of a committee formed after former Lt Governor Najeeb Jung returned the file of a proposal to hike minimum wages by about 50 per cent last September.
A special tripartite committee comprising five members each from the government, labour unions and industry associations was formed with approval from the LG to remove the discrepancies.
