Will this be another normal Workers’ Day with rallies by members of the trade unions and empty promises from the authorities to improve the conditions of the labour class? Or will it be a lot more significant with pending issues actually being addressed by the authorities? The predicament of the labour class can best be understood by the wages they get. The minimum daily wage is set at Rs 307. It last revised in 2016 and unions claim this is the lowest minimum wage in the country. The State that has the highest per capita income statistics, has the lowest minimum wage in the country. That not just sounds completely incongruous but also is just that. It is a anomaly that has to be corrected.
It is not just wages that are the cause of concern, but there are an entire range of issues that the workers face. As per available data, there are close to 4.5 lakh workers in the State who besides low wages, have to deal with inadequate health facilities, no overtime, no transport to work place and more. None of these issues are new, and since these have not improved over the years it can reliably be concluded that what the workers are getting is second-hand treatment from the authorities. So, will this workers day bring any positive change for the labour class in the State? Or will it turn out to be an opportunity to make loft speeches?
Simultaneously, the large and growing number of migrant workers in the State cannot be ignored. Their plight was highlighted two years ago when the first lockdown was announced over the pandemic and also forgotten just as quickly. Often the problems of the migrant workers and of those in the unorganised sector don’t get highlighted. This, despite their issues being more pressing than those of the organised sector. Not only are those in the unorganised sector underpaid, there is also no certainty or security of any form for them. It is their issues that have to also be looked into and some form of security cushion given to them. It is the least that can be done for them.
Simultaneously, a large number of those who had been employed in the mining sector and lost their jobs have also not found new work. Despite various promises to restart mining operations this has not happened and uncertainty over the restart of operations continues despite the formation of the Goa Mineral Development Corporation.
Workers will be able to commemorate this day after having missed it in the past two years due to the restrictions on public gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, the celebrations on this workers day will be quite subdued, primarily because this labour day comes against the backdrop of loss of jobs due to the pandemic. It, however, has to be concerted into an opportunity to review the labour policies that are currently being followed and update them to meet the new needs of a post-Covid labour and employment scenario, that along with everything else has seen much change. These changes have to be factored into a labour policy that will meet all needs.
May Day 2022 can be turned more meaningful if besides promises on increasing the daily minimum wage, other issues are also addressed. The anomaly of a high per capita income and lowest daily minimum wage cannot continue. How can the State boast of the former, when the latter is a dark unseemly shadow hanging over it? The playing field for the labour class has to be level and not stacked in favour of the employer. That is what this May Day should be all about – bringing in that balance.
