ITANAGAR, Jan 21: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday announced enhancement of wages for the labour class of the state government as a “new year gift.”
As per the latest government order, the initial wage on appointment of unskilled contingent employees/casual workers/daily labourers has been enhanced from Rs 8,000 per month (pm) to Rs 10,000 pm, and from Rs 9,000 pm to Rs 11,000 pm for skilled contingent employees/casual workers/daily labourers.
This is an increase of 25% in the case of the unskilled contingent employees, and 22.22% in the case of the skilled contingent employees.
Earlier, the unskilled contingent employees after completing 15 years and above in service got a fixed wage of Rs 11,000 pm till retirement. As per the new order, they will be paid Rs 18,000 as monthly wages after completing 20 years of service, which is a hike of 63.63%.
On the other hand, the skilled contingent employees after completing 15 years and above in service were getting a fixed wage of Rs 11,500 pm till retirement. Now they will be paid Rs 19,000 as monthly wages after completing 20 years of service, which is a hike of 65.21%.
The state government has 17,650 skilled and 12,025 unskilled contingent employees working in various sectors, including the Auxiliary Labour Corps, across the state. At least 5,000 of these contingent employees have completed 20 years in service.
The chief minister said the government would bear the additional financial implications of the exercise on the state exchequer.
“Due to team-work we have been able to achieve unprecedented growth in our revenue generation. Now it’s time for the government to give back to the team members, and our working class is one of the strongest members of ‘Team Arunachal’,” he said.
The enhancement would put an additional financial implication of Rs 5,93,50,000 per month on the government, taking the annual implication to Rs 71,22,00,000. The additional financial implication from the contingent employees (both skilled and unskilled) who have completed 20 years amounts to Rs 2,50,00,000 per month, which means an annual financial implication of Rs 30,00,00,000.
The total additional monthly financial implication comes to Rs 8,43,50,000 (Rs 1,01,22,00,000 annually).
Meanwhile, the latest order has an exponential advantage for the state government contingent employees posted out of Arunachal Pradesh in other states or union territories (UT).
The order adds that if the minimum rates of wages in other state/UTs where government or semi-government organizations under the Arunachal Pradesh government are located are higher than the abovementioned rates, the higher rates would be paid to the employees under the Arunachal Pradesh government working in those states or UTs. (CMO)
