Labourers' wages would be hiked soon: Dingo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 06 2024: Labour and Employment Minister Heikham Dingo has announced on the floor of the State Assembly that the wages of labourers would be hiked shortly.

Replying to policy cut motions raised by Members during the course of discussing a Demand for Grant of Rs 68,07,28,000 pertaining to Labour and Employment, Dingo sad that the labourers' wages should be reviewed every five years but it could not be done due to the Covid pandemic which was followed by the election code of conduct.

Although the State Advisory Board on Minimum Wages held a meeting on February 14, 2023, it could not adopt any concrete decision.

But the board decided to raise the minimum wages of labourers in its meeting held on February 20 this year, Dingo said.

On July 24, the State Cabinet gave its approval to raise the minimum wages.

As per the Cabinet decision, the daily minimum wages have been hiked from Rs 225 to Rs 400 for unskilled labourers, Rs 248 to Rs 440 for semi-skilled labourers and from Rs 273 to Rs 480 for skilled labourers, Dingo said.

Although the State Cabinet has decided to hike the minimum wages, 60 days' time should be given to the public to forward claims and objections.

So, minimum wages would be raised shortly, he said.

He stated that benefits worth crores were distributed to labourers twice in July and again on August 3 .

In addition, Rs 2.40 crore was distributed to 4888 labourers who have been displaced by the violent crisis, Dingo said.

It is true that cards of some labourers were cancelled.

Those cards were cancelled as per guidelines as the labourers failed to pay the annual renewal fee, he said.

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