AAP govt’s Diwali gift for contractual workers: Minimum wages restored
NEWDELHI: Ahead of Diwali, contractual workers employed with the Delhi government will once again start getting the increased minimum wages. The decision, taken by the Cabinet headed by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, will benefit more than 20,000 contractual employees working under the Delhi government.
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, however, clarified that the revised wages will be disbursed to only those employed on a contract basis by the Delhi government in its departments, boards, state-run companies, academies and autonomous bodies. This means an unskilled worker in the state government will now get ₹13,350 instead of ₹9,724 per month and a semi-skilled worker will get ₹14, 698 in place of ₹10, 764 a month.
For skilled labourers, wages have been increased from ₹11, 830 to ₹16,182 per month.
This is the second time the Delhi government has increased minimum wages. In March last year, the government had, through a notification, implemented these new minimum wage slabs applicable to contractual workers across all sectors irrespective of them being employed by private companies or the government. But on August 4 this year, the Delhi High Court quashed the government’s notification, saying it was a “hurried” decision.
“Thursday’s decision is not a violation of the Delhi high court order,” Sisodia said.
The government has directed chief secretary Anshu Prakash to ensure deductions made from August 4 till now is credited to the accounts of the personnel before October 31. “If reduced payments were made as a result of the HC order or if any deductions were made, such workers will be paid the balance amounts on or before October 31,” he said.