A circular issued by the Karnataka’s Labour Department to all the departments, public sector undertakings, universities, boards and corporations asking to pay salaries to housekeeping staff, security guards, scavengers and other contract staff as per the latest minimum wages fixed by the government, otherwise action will be taken against those responsible.
The circular stresses on minimum wages to be paid to the workers who are working under contract basis for various government and government undertaking agencies. It emphasizes the guidelines issued on working hours, leave, payment of ESI and Provident Fund.
The guidelines should also be followed by agencies which supply manpower to these departments, which include security people hired through security agencies, scavengers working with urban local bodies panchayat raj department.
Despite the guidelines, the departments receive complaints from various sectors for not paying the minimum wages, or making delay in payment.
The state government revised minimum wages for 82 categories that come under working class which includes agriculture labourers, tailors, scavengers gardeners and weavers.
The circular adds that the wages should be paid by 5th of every month.The employer should pay their share of ESI and Provident Fund to the workers and records of the same should be maintained.
