5 points from Arvind Kejriwal’s plan to hike in minimum wage for 55 lakh workers

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had allowed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital to notify the 37% hike in minimum wages for workers.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced a hike in minimum wages for workers, which he said was the “highest amount” given by any state government in the country.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and labour minister Gopal Rai address at a press conference on Monday.(Mohd Zakir/ HT photo)

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had allowed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital to notify the 37% hike in minimum wages for workers.

Five points from the Delhi government’s big move

1) Around 55 lakh workers will benefit from the hike in minimum wages, said Kejriwal. The chief minister said employees will get a Diwali bonus of one month’s salary and dearness allowance (DA) for the months of April to September.

2) Workers in Delhi are entitled to get a minimum monthly wage of ₹13,350 (unskilled), ₹14,698 (semi-skilled) and ₹16,182 (skilled), according to the 2017 notification. The revised monthly wage would be ₹14,842 per month (unskilled), ₹16,341 (semi-skilled- for clerical and supervisory staff) and ₹17,991 (skilled).

3) The Delhi government has removed 1,373 contractors so far for not paying minimum wages to their workers. “We had run two special drives and booked over 100 employers for violating minimum wages rule. Six contractors were registered under cases of cheating,” Kejriwal said.

4) This hike in minimum wages, recommended by a 36-member committee, is over and above the revised wages that were notified in 2017.

5) Kejriwal said 44 employers’ associations had filed a petition against the government’s previous notification to increase minimum wages. The high court struck down the notification and the AAP government challenged it in the Supreme Court. “ On October 14, the Supreme Court gave order in favour of the Delhi government and we have notified increased minimum wages,” Kejriwal said.