Unhappy with govt plan to raise minimum wage, traders meet Rai

Two days after Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai announced plan for increasing minimum wages by 30-40 per cent, a group of city traders today met him and raised concerns over the government's move.
About 24 representatives of trade and industry bodies met Rai and demanded reconsideration of the plan.
Last week, the minister had said a 13-member advisory committee, which was constituted by the Labour Department in April to revise minimum wages, will submit its report in the next few days.
Subsequently the decision on fixing minimum wages for all working class - unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled - will be taken, he had said.

One of the representatives said they gave examples of neighbouring states where minimum wages are lower than those in the city even at the current levels.
He said increase in minimum wages will hit small manufacturers who would be "forced to relocate".
The last revision of minimum wages in the city was done in 1994.
However, the Labour Department has been notifying increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) twice a year - April and October - which is based on All India Consumer Price Index No (CPIN).