Chandigarh, March 21 — Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh on Friday demanded an increase in the minimum wage for sanitation workers in Punjab, citing rising inflation and inadequate compensation.
Speaking during the 8th Budget session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he questioned Punjab Labor Minister Tarunpreet Singh Saund on whether the government was considering a proposal to raise the base wage rate.
“Is the Punjab government planning to increase the minimum wage considering the rising inflation? If so, when will it be implemented?” Singh asked.
He pointed out that Chandigarh offers significantly higher wages, creating a disparity. “The base rate in Chandigarh is two and a half times higher than in Punjab. It is also higher in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Previous governments paid no attention to this. Will Punjab’s sanitation workers finally see a wage hike on par with Chandigarh?” he said.
Talking about their harsh working conditions, Singh stressed that sanitation workers face extreme health risks. “Sanitation work is the most difficult. According to a survey, they have the highest mortality rate, with many dying before retirement. Sewer cleaners, in particular, risk their lives without any compensation, as most of them are contract workers,” he said.
He urged the government to revise the base wage rate across all worker categories, keeping in mind the pay structures in neighbouring states.
“Increasing the base wage uniformly across all categories will provide much-needed relief to sanitation workers,” he added.
Minister Assures Wage Hike Under Consideration
Responding to Singh’s demand, Labor Minister Saund confirmed that the Labor Department is reviewing a proposal to raise the minimum wage.
“The proposal to increase the base rate of minimum wages is under active consideration. We are working on a meaningful solution to this issue in consultation with MLA Kulwant Singh,” he said.
Saund explained that Punjab revises minimum wages twice a year, on March 1 and September 1, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). “The last revision was on September 1, 2024, and the next increase will be effective from March 1, 2025,” he said.
He added that the base wage revision is expected this year, with 2025 set as the base year.
