Revise Minimum Wages of Workers, Else We Go to Court: CITU Tells Maharashtra Government

Since 2010, the wages of more than a million workers in 32 industries in Maharashtra have not been revised — despite the state government having a legal obligation to revise wages every five years.

Now, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has warned the BJP state government that labour unions will approach the Bombay High Court — if the government fails to form an advisory committee for revision of wages, as required under the Minimum Wages Act 1948.

About a fortnight ago, CITU wrote a letter to state labour minister Sambhaji Nilangekar-Patil demanding that the ministry constitute the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee (MWAC).

The MWAC must comprise representatives of labour unions, factory owners, the minister concerned and the secretary of that department.

Speaking to Newsclick, DL Karad, Maharashtra president and national vice-president of CITU, said, “Even after 3.5 years of being in power, the Devendra Fadnavis government has not set up the advisory committee, which is a statutory body. This only shows the absolute negligence of this government regarding labour laws and workers’ welfare.”

“All the committee has to do is fix the revised minimum wages after taking into account inflation and the standards of living. Then it has to issue a notification giving directions to industries to raise the minimum wages. The government does not have to spend anything,” he said.

Karad said the BJP government had not revised the wages because it was obviously favouring the industrialists at the cost of workers.

“The industrialists supported the BJP, now the party is returning the favour by ensuring that businesses do not need to spend anything more on their workers,” he said.

“We will sue the government in the High Court if they deny workers’ their legal rights.”

On 6 January, a state-level conference of trade unions was held in Nashik, which was attended by all central trade unions — including the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) and even the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

All trade unions unanimously agreed to intensify their demand for revised minimum wages.

In fact, Karad said the trade unions have been demanding a uniform minimum wage across industries that is not less than Rs 18,000 per month.

“The 7th Central Pay Commission recommends Rs 18,000 per month for Class-IV government employees. We demand the same for workers in industries. Right now, the minimum wage varies from industry to industry, but the average wage is only around Rs 9,000-10 ,000.” 

The Press Trust of India quoted a labour department official saying that the state government was processing the file for the formation of the MWAC.

The 32 industries listed by CITU in the letter include tobacco, paper, plastic, printing press, motor transport, cement, salt, ice, electronics, dairy, chemical fertilisers, wooden furniture, cotton ginning, silver jewellery, and even cinema and theatre, among others.