Panchayats pass resolutions fixing labour rates, govt terms move illegal
PATIALA : Panchayats in several districts of Punjab have passed resolutions fixing wages for farmhands for the paddy-sowing season as the demand for local labourers has increased in the wake of the return of migrant workers to their native states due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
Some have even threatened non-compliance with social boycott and fine ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000.
But the state rural development and panchayats department has termed the move as illegal, saying the village bodies are not entitled to pass orders determining the labour rates.
Though the department does not have a conclusive figure, labour unions say at least 40% of the total 13,262 panchayats in Punjab, particularly in Patiala, Sangrur, Muktsar, Mansa, Moga, Ferozepur and Bathinda districts, have passed such resolutions. Paddy sowing will start in the state on Wednesday.
₹2,500-₹3,200 FOR SOWING ON ONE ACRE
As per the resolutions passed by the panchayats, farm labourers will be paid anywhere between ₹2,500 and ₹3,200 for sowing paddy on one acre. On the other hand, farmhands are demanding ₹4,000-₹4,500 for per acre.
Sukhijit Kaur, sarpanch of Muktsar district’s Bhalayiana village, said, “The resolution has been passed for the first time due to labour shortage. It will help both farmers and labourers as the rates decided suit both the parties.”
Also, they have been asked to work in their villages on priority.
Rajdeep Kaur, sarpanch of Ghanauri Khurd village in Sangrur district, said the resolution was passed to avoid confusion while hiring labourers. “The decision to bar labourers from working at other villages was taken to cope with the shortage of labour,” she said.
Moga’s Singhawala panchayat decided to increase the fine to ₹50,000, besides banning entry of labourers from other areas.
‘WE’VE RIGHT TO SEEK WAGES AS PER WORK’
Punjab Khet Majdoor Union general secretary Lachhman Singh Sewewala said, “More and more panchayats are doing this. We have all the right to demand wages as per the requirement of work. How can a panchayat force the labourers to work in their villages only?”
“Last year, migrant workers were paid ₹2,700-₹3,200 for sowing on per acre, and now the panchayats are offering the same rates. Threatening workers with social boycott and hefty fines is unconstitutional,” Sewewala said.
Rural development and panchayats department director DPS Kharbanda said, “These resolutions are illegal and we will cancel them once they are tabled. I have instructed the district-level officials to stop this practice.”
SOME EVEN THREATEN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SOCIAL BOYCOTT AND HEFTY FINES, ASK FARMHANDS TO WORK IN THEIR OWN VILLAGES ON PRIORITY; FARM UNIONS CONDEMN DECISION