Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Labour Minister Babush Monserrate said informed that Minimum wages will be finalised before the State Legislative Assembly Session which starts from July 18.
“Minimum wages will be finalised before the State Legislative Assembly Session which starts from July 18,” said the minister giving a new deadline yet again over finalization of minimum wages
The matter related to minimum wages has been pending for a very long time now.
Monserrate said that the draft notification would be issued with the intention of revising minimum wages with proposed rates in the State.
Later, objections and suggestions will be invited from all the stakeholders, including industries and trade unions, within 60 days from the date of notification.
The Minister said that after receiving suggestions and objections, the State government would fix the minimum wages in the State and notify them.
Currently, the minimum wage for unskilled workers is Rs 307, and it was last revised in 2016.
Though the minimum wages are revised every three years, the State government could not revise them for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister said that though he wanted to revise and fix minimum wages before Ganesh Chaturthi, it was delayed due to some factors, such as the financial impact on the State government.
“There are a large number of workers working on daily wages in various government departments, and they would also get the benefit of the revised minimum wages,” he added.
Minister also said that Goa government will write to the center to make Provident Fund(PF) facility available to firms with 10 or more employees as is the case with Employees’ State Insurance(ESI).
He said presently ESI is applicable to all establishments that employ more than 10 employees but PF is applicable to those having 20 or more employees. “We will write to the center to make it on par with ESI,” said Babush.
