Minimum daily wages of labourers to be raised to Rs 100

Gangtok, Feb 14 (UNI) The minimum daily wages for labourers in Sikkim will be raised to Rs 100 from the present Rs 85 from April 1, said Mr B M Ramudamu, vice-president of the labour front of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) today.

According to Mr Ramudamu, also an MLA, Sikkim labourers are the highest paid in the country and they enjoy full protection and benefits and asserted that there is absolutely no labour problems in the state.

The Sikkim government has segregated the labourers and its Muster Roll employees into unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled categories and accordingly the minimum daily wages will be fixed starting from Rs 100 to Rs 150, said P.W.Rinzing, additional secretary, state labour department.

'' On April 1, we will be announcing more benefits and welfare schemes for the labourers,'' Mr Ramudamu said.

About 4,000 workers are engaged in medium and micro industries in the state besides a large number of Muster Roll and Work Charge employees employed with the state government.

The state labour department is also conducting registration of labourers in the state for record and security purposes. Under this drive, a photo identity card will be provided to the labourers along with data of their present and permanent addresses. This is being done in public interest, said the department.

UNI BG KK/src1747