'Govt to revise minimum wages soon'

CHANDIGARH: The Minimum Wages Board constituted by the Punjab government is still in the process of revising minimum wages. In fact, the recent reports about minimum wages being changed to Rs 3,300 per month are incorrect.
Stating this here on Sunday, Punjab labour minister Tikshan Sud said the government, on the advice of Minimum Wages Board, was on its way to revise minimum wages shortly.Unfortunately, the minimum wages were not revised by the Congress government though these were due for revision in 2006, he said, adding that the SAD-BJP alliance government in the state had reconstituted Minimum Wages Board on December 19, 2007.
The minister said three tripartite meetings comprising representatives of employers and workers were held in February, March and April and minimum wages would be shortly revised.
Giving details of the present wage structure, Sood said the minimum wages fixed for an unskilled worker wef 1.1.2001 were Rs 2,000 per month or Rs 76.95 per day.
Similarly, wages for agricultural labour were fixed at Rs 71.05 (with meals) or Rs 80.75 (without meals) per day and Rs 15,363.95 were fixed for an attached labour (consolidated per annum) with meals or food grains equivalent thereof.