HC told state will not enforce draft minimum wage hike without industry talks

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has assured the High Court that no final action will be taken on its draft notifications proposing a revision of minimum wages without first holding consultations with industry representatives. The assurance came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by S. Savitha, Administrative Officer of Shivamogga-Davanagere Nanjappa Hospitals, and P. Nalina, Administrative Officer of Nanjappa Trust.

The petition challenged the draft notifications issued by the Labour Department on April 11 and 19 this year, proposing revised minimum wages for 80 categories of employment. Senior counsel S.S. Naganand, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the draft proposes a uniform wage structure which contradicts the purpose of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

He pointed out that the proposed hike is steep–between 40% to 60% higher than previous rates–and would make Karnataka’s minimum wages the highest in the country. He further argued that despite objections already filed by the petitioners, the government had yet to call a meeting with industry stakeholders to discuss the proposed rates.

Responding to this, the government advocate informed Justice Ananth Ramanath Hegde’s single- judge bench that the state would hold detailed consultations with relevant industry bodies before finalising any notification and that no further action would be taken until then. Recording this assurance, the High Court said if the government tries to implement the draft notifications during the pendency of the petition, the petitioners are at liberty to seek appropriate relief from the court.

The bench ordered notices to be issued to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Labour Department, as well as the General Secretaries of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and adjourned further hearing.