Govt raises daily wage of farm workers

KATHMANDU, Oct 24: The government has raised daily minimum wage of people working in the agricultural sector by as much as 47 percent in an attempt to provide relief to workers who have been bearing the brunt of sharp hike in consumer prices.



The Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM) Monday raised daily minimum wage of those working in tea estates by 31.6 percent to Rs 158. These tea farmers should also be given an allowance of Rs 12 per day on top of daily wages, according to the ministry. [break]



This new practice of providing daily allowances, however, applies only to workers who work on daily wage basis.



Those working on monthly wage basis will only get a flat salary, which has now been revised to Rs 4,424 from Rs 3,360. Daily wage of tea estate workers have increased by more than 350 percent over the past 20 years. The daily wages and monthly salaries of these farmers were last reviewed in March 2009.



The government has also revised daily wage of people working in other agricultural sectors, which has now been fixed at Rs 221 per day from Rs 150 of the past. The hourly wage of these workers has also been revised to Rs 27.62 from Rs 18.75 of the past.



The decision to revise daily wages and monthly salaries of people working in the agricultural sector was taken by the Central Labor Advisory Board which comprises of representatives of the government, the private sector and labor unions.



“The revised rates will come into effect soon after they are published in the government´s gazette,” an official of the MoLTM told Republica on condition of anonymity.



The implementation of the new wage structures will be effectively monitored by district development committees, municipalities and village development committees. “Action will be taken against those who fail to meet the minimum salary standard set by the government,” an official of MoLTM said.



The government decided to raise wages of agricultural workers after people working in the sector started going abroad to work due to unattractive salaries, which was unable to provide cushion against the recent price hikes, according to the ministry.



Since agricultural sector provides employment to 71 percent of active labor force in the country, it was essential to revise their wages as this was creating a situation of ´labor drain´ in the country, the ministry said.



The latest move comes close on the heels of the government decision to raise minimum daily wage of people working in industrial sector by 21.5 percent to Rs 231. At that time, the monthly salary of industrial workers was also raised to Rs 6,200 from Rs 4,600 of the past.

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