Port Blair, July 16: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions has demanded immediate revision of minimum wages for the scheduled employment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In a letter sent to the Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary of the CITU, A & N State Committee stated that the minimum wages for the scheduled employment was revised in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands vide Notification No. 32/09 (F.No. 12-39/2007-Labour) dated 27th February, 2009 with effect from 1st March, 2009.
He told the Lt. Governor that despite several requests made to the Administration and the Labour Department, no concrete steps has been taken by the Administration to revise the minimum rates of wages even though it is provided in clause b of sub section 2 of section 3 Minimum Wages Act, 1948 that intervals at such review of minimum rates of wages should not exceed five years.
The five year period since the last revision has already expired during February, 2014. The minimum wages fixed during February, 2009 was Rs. 156 and the said amount still continues and only Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) is added in every six months. Shri Chandrachoodan further informed the Lt. Governor that in the past, the Administration used to appoint a Committee in which representatives of trade unions and employers were members to make necessary recommendations for the revision of minimum rates of wages.
During the last one year, despite CITU’s request, no such committee has been formed by the Administration which is against the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Hence, CITU urged upon the Lt. Governor to take appropriate steps to revise the minimum rates of wages for schedule employment which will be of immense relief to thousands of workers working in these islands especially those engaged in private sector during these hard days of sky-rocketing prices.
