With a view to removing disparity in minimum wages across the country, the national minimum wage is likely to be raised to Rs 70 per day from Rs 50 at present, if the unanimous decision taken by the state governments is approved by a Central committee.
At a day-long conference here, state labour and health ministers were of the opinion that the national minimum wages could be raised to Rs 66 per day for 2002-03 on the basis of the National Sample Survey Organisation Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1999-2000.
It could even be hiked to Rs 70, they said.
"The stand taken by the States will be considered by the Central Minimum Wage Advisory Board at its next meeting," Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma said at the end of the conference organised by the Employees State Insurance Corporation in New Delhi.
"The objective is to safeguard the interests of the workers engaged in all employments," he said.
Referring to the proposed amendments to the Contract Labour (Abolition) Act, Verma said a sub-section was sought to be inserted allowing contract labour in 13 jobs, including sweeping, cleaning, loading and unloading, security services, running of canteen services, house keeping and laundry services, transport and courier services, besides construction and maintenance of buildings, roads and bridges.
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