Pay Contractual Workers Central Wage Scales, Minister Directs Metro

Nagpur: Minister of state for labour Akash Fundkar has directed Nagpur Metro to implement wages as per the central wage scales, addressing long-pending demands of contractual employees. The decision was taken during a meeting at Mantralaya, Mumbai, initiated by MLA Pravin Datke on Tuesday.
Employees had raised concerns about the application of shop and establishment rates instead of central wage scale rates. They demanded a wage revision, the abolition of contract-based employment, and a policy ensuring equal pay for equal work at all metro operations across the state. Datke followed up with the govt regarding these demands, but no concrete decision had been taken until now.
Recently, over 250 MahaMetro employees protested from Bajaj Nagar police station to Metro Bhavan, demanding central wage scale pay. Led by Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS) and the metro workers union, they highlighted wage disparities. MLA Datke had raised the issue earlier, meeting MahaMetro officials on January 30 as well. Following protests, union leaders met Metro officials, who confirmed a wage policy proposal was under review, which was then addressed by Fundkar when he directed Metro to implement the central wage scales.
During the meeting in Mumbai, Datke emphasised that dissatisfaction among contractual workers was growing due to disparities in wages. He presented three key demands: scrapping the existing wage rates under the shop and establishments category, making contractual employees permanent, and ensuring wage increments based on equal pay for equal work principle.
Responding to these demands, Fundkar instructed Metro authorities and the labour department to implement the central wage scale for contractual employees. He also directed officials to design a common policy for all contractual workers and convene a follow-up meeting with principal secretary Ashwini Bhide to finalise a uniform wage structure.
Datke also expressed gratitude towards the minister for taking a decisive step in addressing the concerns of Nagpur Metro's contractual workforce. The meeting was attended via video conferencing by secretary Kundan, Metro MD Shravan Hardikar, and union representatives, including Mahesh Khandare.
The move is expected to bring relief to a significant number of workers who were struggling due to wage disparities. The upcoming meeting with Bhide will further determine the implementation process, ensuring a standardised policy for all contractual employees in Nagpur Metro.