Labour unions in Goa cutting across their affiliations have joined hands to demand a minimum monthly wage of Rs 12,000 for workers against Rs 10,000 being sought nationally.
“Everything is expensive in Goa compared to rest part of the country. This is the reason why we are demanding Rs 12,000 as a minimum wage for workers although nationally the demand is Rs 10,000,” Raju Mangueshkar, Deputy General Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), told reporters here today.
Goa Convention of Workers, an umbrella organisation of trade unions, including INTUC, CITU, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, will hold demonstration in the State as part of the pan-India strike called by labour unions on September 25, he said.
“Various other demands, including rollback of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG prices, will also be raised during the demonstrations to be held in North and South districts,” Mangueshkar said.
He said that the situation on the front of minimum wages for workers in the State’s industrial estate was grim as some are paid as less as Rs 150 a day by their employers.
Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) leader Thalam Pereira said union leaders cutting across ideologies have come together for agitations against “anti-people” policies of governments.
AITUC leader Suhas Naik said demands like curbing the prices of all essential commodities, petroleum products including LPG cylinders, will be highlighted during the stir.
“There should not be any contractual appointment in future and the state government should implement the pro-labour policies,” Naik said.
The unions plan to raise Goa-specific issue of protection of jobs and livelihood of mining-affected and dependent people during agitations.