Okendro assures wage hike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30 2014:
CAF&PD Minister M Okendro has assured that wages of labourers working at the department's Sangaiprou godown would be hiked with effect from the first week of August.
But the unconventional methods of agitation adopted by the agitating labourers and their families and supporters with an intention to project the department in wrong light was not desirable, said a press release issued by the Minister's information cell in- charge.
The Government acknowledged that the labourers have suffered for a long time.
But the labourers were engaged by labour contractors from time to time.
As such, the department has no official binding with the labourers.
This does not mean the department is unmindful of the labourers' woes.
A labour shed has been constructed at Sangaiprou godown for the labourers and the adjoining roads of the Sangaiprou godown have been black topped for the convenience of labourers.
Even though the department is aware that the wages given to labourers is outdated, they have been paid the wages fixed in 2000 till February this year because of a case pending in Court, read the press statement.
The term of the latest labour contractor expired i February and efforts are on to extend the contract period.
In the meantime, there cropped up a possibility of enforcing the National Food Security Act from the current month.
Once this Act is implemented, the handling charge should be borne by the Centre.
Because of all these circumstances, the State Government could not take up actions in hurry even though the Government wished to hike the labourers' wages.
Although arrest of agitation labourers by police has nothing to do with the department, the department has been working to ensure their release at the earliest.
The Minister also assured that the labourers would be given wages compatible with the growing requirements with effect from the first week of August.