AAP trade wing threatens strike against min wage hike

New Delhi, Aug 17: The AAP government's decision to hike minimum wages by 50 per cent has not gone down well with the party's trade wing which today threatened to call a strike claiming the step will lead to lay-offs and affect business.

Terming the decision as "unjustified", the outfit said it will raise the issue with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.

Following a meeting with trade associations here, Brijesh Goyal, the convenor of the body, said the upward revision in wages will not only lead to "laying off" of workers but also result in complete industrial and trade "shutdown" in the national capital.

Goyal had yesterday met Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Labour Minister Gopal Rai and conveyed their objections.

The Delhi Cabinet is likely to approve the wage hike proposal today. "We have sought time from the LG. We will also meet representatives of trade wings of other political parties. If everyone decides to go on strike then even we will do the same," Goyal said.

He said that wages in Delhi were already the "highest" among north Indian states and more compared to Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal as well. A further hike will make industries and trade uncompetitive and push up inflation, he claimed.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced the government's decision in his Independence Day speech. As per the government's proposal, the minimum wages for unskilled person will be Rs 14,052 against the existing Rs 9,568 in the national capital.

Besides, the same for semi-skilled and skilled persons will increase from Rs 10,582 to Rs 15,471 and from Rs 11,622 to 17,033 respectively.

PTI