PANJIM: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Goa, on Wednesday demanded a rise in the minimum wages for workers.
Addressing a rally held at Azad Maidan, Panjim, on the occasion of May Day, AITUC leader Adv Suhash Naik said, “The minimum wages for the unskilled workers should be at least Rs 750 per day. Besides, they should also be given a dearness allowance. Semi skilled workers should be given Rs 850 per day and skilled workers should get Rs 950 per day. The highly skilled workers should get a payment of Rs 1,000 per day. We are just asking for the minimum revival wage. The wage which has been fixed by the government is not minimum wage. It is a starvation wage.”
He demanded that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) imposed on the pharma industry in Goa should be lifted forthwith.
The AITUC demanded revision in minimum wages to Rs 26,000 per month to all the unskilled workers, extension of 7th Pay Commission benefits to Goa Panchayat workers/staff, Public Works Department (PWD) staff and pre-primary teachers, helpers on the basis of Supreme Court judgment on equal pay for equal work.
It demanded that social security facilities be provided to all the unorganised, contract and casual workers in all the government and private establishments and all the electricity department line helpers be absorbed into the permanent system.
It also demanded that River and Navigation Department (RND) employees be paid their overtime wages pending for a long time.
Earlier, the trade union body took out a rally which commenced from the KTC bus stand, went through the city, and culminated at Azad Maidan.
