Odisha govt hikes minimum wages of labourers

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 1:

The Odisha government today announced a hike in the minimum wage for labourers in all categories.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made the announcement about the wage hike at the state level function to mark the International Labour Day (May Day) here today.

Under the revised wage, the daily wage of an unskilled labourer has been hiked from Rs 150 to Rs 200, semi-skilled labourer from Rs 170 to Rs 220, skilled labourer from Rs 190 to Rs 240 and highly-skilled labourer from Rs 205 to Rs 240.

Stressing the crucial role labourers play in the growth of the country, the chief minister said his government had launched several welfare schemes for the socio-economic development of the labourers.

“The state government can create a healthy and congenial environment for the labourers if it gets support from all quarters,” he said.

Referring to the child labour system in the state, Patnaik said the state government has started the State Action Plan for implementation of programmes for eradication of child labour.

On the occasion, the chief minister felicitated five eminent trade union leaders—Dutikrushna Panda, Sibaji Patnaik, Rama Chandra Khuntia, Krushna Chandra Patra and Surendra Prasad Ray with Shramik Bandhu award with a cash award of Rs 50,000 and a citation each for their profound contribution to the welfare of the labourers.

Among others, Labour minister Prafulla Mallick, Tourism and Culture minister Ashok Panda, MP Prasanna Patsani, MLAs Bijay Mohanty and Priyadarshi Mishra, chairperson of Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board Subash Singh and secretary, Labour Welfare, G Srinivas were present on the occasion.