Traders demands roll back of increment in minimum wages by Delhi govt

New Delhi, Oct 29 (KNN) Unhappy with the Delhi government’s decision to increase minimum wages for unskilled labour, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has demanded the roll back of the said notification, citing it as a major financial burden on traders and employers in Delhi.

The CAIT on Tuesday in a written communication said that the Delhi Government has taken such an important decision without taking the traders and employers of Delhi in confidence and such a unilateral decision will put a much high financial pressure on Traders and Employers in Delhi.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that through the notification the Delhi Government has fixed minimum wages for unskilled labor at Rs.14,842-00 per month, which is the largest chunk of labourers who are employed with traders and other employers in Delhi. He further said that while employing unskilled labourer, the traders do not consider either educational qualification or skills and gives employment and therefore the business community in Delhi becomes the major and best source of their employment.

Khandelwal highly regretted that while fixing the said minimum wages, the Delhi Government did not held any consultation with traders and it appears that neither the impact of such increase on trade of Delhi has been assessed. It is also regretted that during last five years, the Delhi government has not taken any step to ensure growth of trade and commerce in Delhi which is quite alarming.

"The Delhi trade which has been acknowledged the largest distribution centre of goods in the Country is already reeling under an unprecedented slowdown and the traders are finding it difficult to survive in the business and the steep hike in minimum wages will result into unnecessary huge financial load on the traders"-Khandelwal added.

On behalf of traders of Delhi, the CAIT has lodge its strong protest against such unjustified, arbitrary, unilateral and uncalled for increase in minimum wages.

Khandelwal also said that in the said notification it is mentioned that while fixing such wages, the Government has taken this step by linking the minimum wages with All India Price Index Series, 2001 which raises a question that whether the government also assessed the growth of trade in Delhi by linking the above said price index. Whether Government has also assessed the financial implications of the said increase on traders and employers of Delhi. By such increase in wages, the trade of Delhi will be badly affected in terms of finance and employment.

Under the circumstances, the CAIT has demanded Kejriwal to please reconsider the above said decision and sought an immediate appointment for a delegation of traders of Delhi.

---------------------