Daily wages for workers enhanced

Ordinary labourer entitled to Rs. 130 per day’s work


GANGTOK, July 5: The State government has enhanced the existing daily wages for the workers engaged in various construction activities, industries, public and private sectors and commercial establishments operating in Sikkim.
As per the revised rates for daily wages, an unskilled worker is entitled to a daily wage of Rs. 130 as compared to the existing rate of Rs. 100. The daily wages of semi-skilled workers have been enhanced to Rs. 145 from Rs. 115.
Similarly, a skilled labourer is now entitled to daily wages of Rs.165 as compared to Rs. 130 that he or she was getting presently.
The daily wages of a highly skilled worker has been enhanced to Rs. 190 from the existing rate of Rs. 150.
The minimum rates of wages are applicable to workers employed by contractors as well as workers engaged in private masonry works like house and building also.
An unskilled worker falls in the bracket of those who are involved in simple operation requiring little or no skill or experience on the job. Chowkidars, peons, sweepers and cleaners fall in this category fixed by the State labour department.
Semi-skilled work has been defined as work which involves some degree of skill or competence, acquired through experience on the job and which is capable of being performed under the supervision or guidance of skilled employee.
Assistant fitter, hammer man, head attendant, gatekeeper and polishers are few examples of semi-skilled workers.
A skilled worker performs jobs which involves skill acquired through experience on the job or through training as an apprentice in a technical or vocational institute and the performance of which calls for initiative and judgement.
Workers like carpenter, artist, line operator, head cook, computer operator, compositor and librarian are skilled workers in the list of the State labour department.
High skilled work has been defined at work which calls for degree of perfection and competence in the performance of certain jobs including clerical work acquired through intensive technical or professional training or adequate work experience for certain reasonable period.
These workers are bull dozer operator, excavator operator, roller driver, plumbers, electrician, zoo keepers and grade 1 workers of Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms.
Meanwhile, the daily wages rates are also subjective to the various altitudes where the workers are engaged.
Workers engaged at areas in Sikkim up to 8000 ft will be paid normal wages but those working from 8001 ft to 12000 ft must be paid 50 percent more than the normal wages by their employers.
Workers at altitudes from 12001 ft to 16000 ft must be paid 75 percent more than normal wages as per the directives of the State government.
For those working in altitudes above 16000 ft have to be paid double the normal wages.
The department has also notified that workers who works without being absent during the period of 6 days consecutively in a week, he pr she is entitled to one paid holiday on either Sunday or any other Hat day. The department has also forbidden engagement of workers for more than nine hours a day without a break of one hour.
Workers engaged for overtime works are entitled to double the ordinary rate of wages.

source; sikkim express