Minimum wages not being paid despite SC ruling, says Mevani

Congress’ Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani said in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that minimum wages are not paid on the premises of the Legislative Assembly, in the Chief Minister’s Office, MLA quarters, offices of Mamlatdars, district offices and the circuit houses despite the Supreme Court stating that non-payment of minimum wage amounts to forced labour.

“This is a violation of their constitutional and human rights. I request the government that if private companies and industrial units in Gujarat do not follow the minimum wages, then it is the responsibility of the state government to ensure Minimum Wages Act is implemented. But if the minimum wage is not implemented in the state offices, where will these employees go? The situation is such that in many places, if the minimum wage is received, PF is not deducted, if PF is deducted, the agency or contractor has to deposit its share, but they do not deposit it, while in many places, salary slips are not received. So this problem is in entire Gujarat,” Mevani stated during discussions on budgetary demands for Labour and Employment Department.

He claimed that when during elections — be it local body elections, parliamentary elections, assembly elections or a session of the Legislative Assembly — ASHA workers, Anganwadi, GISF jawans, sanitation workers, multipurpose health workers, Home Guards visit Gandhinagar for getting their demand of minimum wages fulfilled.

“Also, many of them have filed petitions in the High Court and the Supreme Court, demanding that minimum wages be paid… And there is also a demand that they be regularised. On behalf of such employees, my submission is that those people should withdraw their petitions and the government should proactively communicate with them and address their issues and bring an amicable solution. The state government should create a situation where they should withdraw their petitions.”