Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Calls for Rs 400 Minimum Wage for Workers
New Delhi [India], July 18: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has highlighted that workers today can buy less than they could 10 years ago due to slow wage growth and high inflation. He cited various data sources, including government statistics, showing a decline in real wages.
Ramesh referred to the Labour Bureau’s Wage Rate Index, noting that real wages for laborers stagnated between 2014-2023 and declined between 2019-2024. He also mentioned the Agriculture Ministry’s Agricultural Statistics at a Glance, which showed that real wages for agricultural laborers grew at 6.8% per year under the UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh but declined by -1.3% per year under the current administration.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Series data, average real earnings have stagnated between 2017 and 2022 across all employment types. Data from the Centre for Labour Research and Action indicated that real wages of brick kiln workers have stagnated or declined between 2014 and 2022.
Ramesh emphasized the need for a nationwide minimum wage of Rs 400 per day to provide justice to laborers and break the cycle of stagnant wages. He stated that the Union Budget offers an opportunity to achieve this goal.
Doubts Revealed
Congress -: Congress is a major political party in India. It is one of the oldest parties and has played a significant role in India’s history.
Jairam Ramesh -: Jairam Ramesh is a senior leader of the Congress party. He has held various important positions in the government and is known for his work in environmental and economic policies.
Minimum Wage -: Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money that employers are legally required to pay their workers. It is set by the government to ensure workers can meet their basic needs.
Inflation -: Inflation is when the prices of goods and services go up over time. This means that the same amount of money buys less than it used to.
Real Wages -: Real wages are the amount of money workers earn after adjusting for inflation. If prices go up but wages stay the same, real wages go down.
UPA Government -: UPA stands for United Progressive Alliance. It is a coalition of political parties in India, led by the Congress party, which was in power before the current government.
Agricultural Laborers -: Agricultural laborers are people who work on farms and fields. They help grow and harvest crops and are an important part of the farming community.
