EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER: JANUARY-2016
MINIMUM WAGE STILL A DREAM FOR WORKERS
68 years have passed after independence of India. But the need
based minimum wage still appears a dream for working class. After reaching a
tripartite agreement in 15th Indian Labour Conference in 1957 a
scientific formula called as Dr. Akroid formula based on minimum needs of a
workers to survive and work, was accepted. Based on this formula all Central
trade unions and independent federations are struggling since long to achieve
the demand of minimum wage.
This time also
National council JCM demanded Rs. 26000 as minimum wage to a lowest class
employees based on Dr. Akroid formula as on 01.01.2014 taking the commodity
prices as Rs. 11344. The rates were taken as an average price of actual market
from various cities throughout the India and actual receipts obtained from the
shops and consumer stores were also produced as evidence. After adding
component of housing, children education and social obligations it comes to
26000.
But the pay
commission has recommended Rs. 18000 as minimum wage taking 12 monthly average
of commodity prices quoted by Labour bureau Shimla which is totally contrary to
Dr. Akroid Formula and the figures are imaginary not realistic.
The pay
commission has also reduced the component of expenses on social obligation and
children education as 15% contrary to the Supreme Court judgment of 25% on the
plea that the employees are paid children Education allowance separately. The
Children Education allowance is not fully reimbursed and expenses on education
have increased heavily after liberalization of the education sector. The
housing component has also been reduce by the pay commission stating that
employees are paid HRA separately. House Rent Allowance is not full
compensation of expenditure incurred on rent of accommodation obtained by an
employee Earlier 3rd Pay commission has given 7.5% as the factor for
housing.
Thus this 7th
CPC has drastically cut the minimum wage.
The website of
Agriculture Ministry also maintains the record of prices of commodities which
are required to compute the minimum wage. Though these prices also vary from
the real retail market. But if these prices had been taken by the pay commission
as an all India average of the prices as on 01.07.2015. It will work out Rs.
10810. Thus the computation of minimum wage will arrive as Rs. 19880. After
adding 25% for arriving at MTS scale it will come as Rs. 24850 and to convert
it as on 01.01.2016 after adding 3% as suggested by 7th CPC. The
final computation will come as 25596 when rounded off it shall be Rs. 26000/-
Without
modification of minimum wage, no improvement is expected in the higher pay
scales. Therefore it requires recomputation and revision. If it is revised
consequently the fitment formula, multiplication factor and pay matrix will
have to be revised.
Thus it is the
urgent need to revise the minimum wage.
The NJCA,
Confederation and NFPE have given charter of demands to the Government of India
seeking modification in so many demands failing which all Central Government
Employees will be compelled to go on indefinite strike from 1st week
of March-16.
NFPE call upon the entirely of
Postal, RMS and GDS employees to act as per the agitational programme given by
the Confederation and NFPE and make the Government ready to accept the genuine
demands of Central Government Employees
