Some relief for industrial workers in state

NT NETWORK

Panaji

Providing some relief to the industrial workers in the state from the rising prices, the government on Thursday increased the minimum wages by Rs 12 per day by adjusting the variable dearness allowance (VDA) to the prevailing inflation.

The revised VDA, calculated on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index (CPI), currently stands at Rs 52 per day from Rs 40 per day for various types of workers employed in scheduled categories of employment.

“The revision is effective from April 1, 2020,” says the notification signed by Commissioner, Labour & Employment, Raju Gawas.

With the revision in the VDA, the minimum wages in the state currently start at Rs 359 per day for unskilled workers.

There are around 20 categories of workers in the state in the skilled and unskilled categories such as those employed in saw mills, breweries, pharmaceutical industry, electronic component industry etc.

The increase in VDA in the state comes at a time when locals are reeling under a massive hike in the prices of pulses and food items due to the coronavirus lockdown. Prices of everyday consumables like tur dal, fish and cooking oil have shot up by around 15-20 per cent.

On the other hand, the industry in Goa is complaining about the wage burden and threatening to effect pay cuts to offset the loss in business due to the lockdown.

The minimum wages in the state were last revised in May 2016 (leaving out the VDA component).