New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's decision to hike minimum wages by 50 percent has not gone down well with the party's trade wing, which on Wednesday threatened to call a strike claiming the step will lead to lay-offs and affect business.
Terming the decision as "unjustified", the outfit said it will raise the issue with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
Following a meeting with trade associations here, Brijesh Goyal, the convenor of the body, said the upward revision in wages will not only lead to "laying off" of workers but also result in complete industrial and trade "shutdown" in the national capital.
Goyal met Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Labour Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday and conveyed their objections. The Delhi Cabinet is likely to approve the wage hike proposal on Wednesday.
"We have sought time from the LG. We will also meet representatives of trade wings of other political parties. If everyone decides to go on strike then even we will do the same," Goyal said.
He said that wages in Delhi were already the "highest" among north Indian states and more compared to Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal as well.
A further hike will make industries and trade uncompetitive and push up inflation, he claimed. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced the government's decision in his Independence Day speech.
As per the government's proposal, the minimum wages for unskilled person will be Rs. 14,052 against the existing Rs. 9,568 in the national capital. Besides, the same for semi-skilled and skilled persons will increase to Rs. 15,471 from Rs. 10,582 and to 17,033 from Rs. 11,622 respectively.
