The recent notification of the Punjab government regarding revising the minimum wages of unskilled workers to Rs 5,200 from the existing Rs 4,268 has come as a shock to the industry. In reply to the government asking for their suggestions on the notification,the industrialists have asked the state government not to implement it. P D Sharma,president of Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry said,Minimum Wages Advisory Board has been recommending a substantial increase in the minimum wages of unskilled workers in Punjab. Unfortunately,Punjabs industry has not been given adequate representation in the board. Upkar Singh,joint secretary of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) said,There was a hike in minimum wages in March and another proposal now is not justified. We are not ready to shell out so much money as the industry has already been fighting with power and labour crisis. The government also intends to convert unskilled workers to semi skilled workers after three years of work experience and a semi-skilled workers to skilled workers after six years of work experience. Hence,in this case the salaries will increase further, Singh added.
