Centre to increase monthly minimum wages to 10,000 rupees for contract labourers

Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has said that the government has decided to bring out an executive order to increase minimum wages to 10,000 rupees per month for contract labourers across the country. He said a gazette notification will be issued within a week in this regard. Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad today, Mr Dattatreya lamented that though the government wanted to bring amendment to Minimum Wages Act to ensure hike in the wages of contract labourers, inordinate delay has occurred in the passage of amendment to this Act in Parliament due to non-cooperation from opposition parties. He said the executive order is being issued keeping in view the interests of contract workers and made it clear that all state governments are expected to implement the order without fail. The Union Minister further said that six regional conferences will be held next month to review all labour laws in the country.