Question : MINIMUM WAGES FOR WORKERS OF UNORGANISED SECTOR

(a)the details of minimum wages fixed for the skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b)whether the Government proposes to introduce a uniform system for fixing wage rates for the workers of unorganized sector throughout the country;

(c)if so, the details thereof;

(d)whether the Government has received demands from various trade unions urging a minimum wage of Rs. 10,000/- per month to the workers of the unorganised sector, including agriculture and contract workers in various Government sectors; and

(e)if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto including the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STEEL, MINES, LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 285 FOR 28.07.2014 BY SHRI MD.BADARUDDOZA KHAN AND SHRI OM BIRLA: REGARDING “MINIMUM WAGES FOR WORKERS OF UNORGANISED SECTOR”.

(a): Minimum rates of wages applicable in Central Sphere for various scheduled employments and categories of workers is given at Annexure-I. The range of minimum wages for all categories of workers in the States/UTs in the State Sphere based on the information available in this Ministry is at Annexure-II.

(b) & (c): It may not be possible to develop uniform system for fixing rates of wages throughout the country due to differences in socio-economic and agro-climatic conditions, prices of essential commodities, paying capacity, productivity and local conditions influencing the wage rate. However, a concept of National Floor Level Minimum Wage was introduced in 1996. This has been revised from time to time since then based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Industrial workers and is presently fixed at Rs.137 per day with effect from 01.07.2013.

(d) & (e): Major Central Trade Unions have submitted their demands which inter-alia includes fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs. 10,000/- linked with cost price index. While the National Floor Level Minimum Wage will ensure that employees do not receive wages below it for all employments, however, since minimum wages vary across employments depending upon the factors mentioned in reply to parts (b) & (c), it may not be possible to have a uniform wage of Rs.10,000/- linked with Cost Price Index throughout the Country.