Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa Small Industries Association has reacted strongly to the statement of Labour Minister Atanasio Monseratte on the increase of minimum wages.
The GSIA president Damodar Kochkar said that it is wrong on the part of Minister of Labour Atanasio’ Babush’ Monserratte to make a public statement that Labour & Employment Department will be labour friendly and not Management friendly.
“The Government should adopt a balanced approach and always try to arrive at an amicable understanding between the labour and the Management,” he said.
He said the rates of minimum wages used to be revised once 3/5 years when there was no VDA element in the minimum wage rates.
“We in Goa agreed to have VDA linked to cost of living first time during last revision of minimum rates of wages in 2016. There is a Supreme Court of India’s guidelines of 5 years interval for revision wherever VDA is paid. It is wrong to say that no revision in minimum rates wages have been made for the past 6 years as VDA has taken care of the increase in cost of living. From zero VDA in 2016 it is now Rs 85 /- per day payable from 01/04/2022. This amounts to about a 28% increase in the rate of minimum wages in the last 5 years,” he said.
Kochkar says they can accept for issuing smart cards but with limited information.
“Government is asking the Management to fill in almost more than 24 items of information. Government is free to reconstitute the boards. They should, however give proper representation to Employer Associations like GCCI and GSIA,” he stated.
Kochkar said as per the provisions of labour laws as applicable at present, employers are obligated only to notify the vacancies to local employment exchange. Beyond this obligation, the Government cannot put any other unreasonable restrictions by executive order.
“It is not correct to on the part of New Labour Minister to make an announcement publicly that all private industries will be made to advertise their vacancies on par with Government departments. We strongly oppose this move,” he said.