PHDCCI opposes hike in minimum wages in Haryana

Chandigarh, Mar 2 (UNI) Opposing the recent announcement of a hike in minimum wages in Haryana, PHDCCI Secretary General Krishan Kalra today urged the state government to withdraw the proposal.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Kalra appealed to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for adopting a practical approach that ''takes care of the paying capacity of the smallest employer in industry and small business enterprises.'' Haryana, he said, should fix minimum wages broadly in tune with the current wages in neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and not otherwise as the economies of these states were inter-linked. ''Higher wages shall be a dis-incentive to setting up of new industry and trade enterprises,''he said.

At present, the wages for unskilled workers in Punjab were Rs 2440, Himachal Pradesh Rs 2100, Uttar Pradesh Rs 2600 and Uttrakhand Rs 2080.

Therefore, the intention to raise minimum wages to Rs 3510 in Haryana was apparently not pragmatic, he added.

''PHDCCI shall impress upon the Chief Minister that prevailing minimum wage rate of Rs 2484 compares favourably with other states in Northern region,'' he said.

Revision in minimum wages, he said, would have reaction among all industrial units and raise expecation of other workers who may otherwise be getting far higher remuneration.

UNI