NEW DELHI, May 19: The Delhi Government has increased the minimum wages of workers in the Capital by approving payment of additional dearness allowance. The minimum wage in the city is the highest in the country.The Delhi Labour Minister S.P. Ratawal said workers would be paid Rs 153 as additional dearness allowance and the increased wages would be paid with arrears from February 1, 1998.The increased wages would be applicable to 29 categories of scheduled employments.
The hike wages are for unskilled workers from Rs 1,784 to Rs 1,937; for semiskilled from Rs 1,950 to Rs 2,130; for skilled from Rs 2,208 to Rs 2,361; for non-matriculates from Rs 1,977 to Rs 2,130; for matriculates from Rs 2,232 to Rs 2,385 and graduates and above from Rs 2,544 to Rs 2,697.
``Delhi was already paying the highest wages in the country. This decision for a further hike has been pending since February. We had to postpone it as elections were declared,'' he said. The wages in Punjab are Rs 1,542; Haryana Rs 1,631; Uttar Pradesh Rs 1,552 and Rajasthan Rs 832. ``However, the lowest wages are in Kerala at Rs 507 and West Bengal at Rs 662.''He also announced that the Ministry is seeking two more labour courts which would be set up very soon to expedite complaints concerning wages and employment. There are already 10 labour courts and three tribunals functioning in the Capital which address labour problems.
However, in 1996, of the total complaints of 4,608 only 25 faced prosecution. ``To improve law-enforcement, we are requesting employees and employers to make sure that an appointment letter is issued,'' Ratawal said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
