Trade unions seek higher wages

Demanding an increase in minimum wages,trade unions supported by the All India Trade Union Congress(AITUC) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a dharna at the Mini Secretariat on Thursday. The workers submitted a memorandum to Punjab chief minister through the Ludhiana district commissioner. Tarsem Jodhan,trade union leader said in the past 10 years,minimum worker wages had been revised just once in Punjab. Today workers in Punjab are paid Rs 3840 per month while in Haryana the minimum wages are Rs 4700 and in Chandigarh the minimum wages are Rs 6,000. Punjab stands at number 18 in granting minimum wages to workers,while at one point it held the top spot,he added.

Jodhan said Accredited social health activists(ASHA) and mid day meal workers are not even included in the minimum wages circle. “So apart from hike in minimum wages,we want these workers to be included,” he said. Industrial workers,brick kiln workers,ASHA,mid day meal workers and many others took part in the dharna.