New Delhi, July 18: Addressing concerns over the “decline in real wages,” the Congress party underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s electoral setbacks and advocated for a nationwide minimum wage of Rs. 400 per day in the upcoming Union Budget.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasized that multiple data sources, including government statistics, indicate a significant erosion in purchasing power for workers over the past decade. He cited the Labour Bureau’s wage rate index, highlighting stagnation in real wages between 2014 and 2023, with a decline observed from 2019 to 2024.
Ramesh contrasted the economic performance under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, noting a growth of 6.8% annually in real wages for agricultural labourers, against a decline of minus 1.3% per year under Modi’s tenure.
Referring to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Series and data from the Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ramesh pointed out that real earnings across various employment types, including salaried, casual, and self-employed workers, have remained stagnant between 2017 and 2022.
He also highlighted the plight of brick kiln workers, whose real wages have either stagnated or declined from 2014 to 2022, describing brick kiln labour as low-paying and labor-intensive, often the last resort for India’s poorest.
In advocating for a nationwide minimum wage of Rs. 400 per day, a promise outlined in the Congress’ ‘Nyay Patra’ manifesto, Ramesh proposed this as a crucial step towards addressing the cycle of stagnant wages and delivering justice to workers.
“The self-anointed non-biological PM has been delivered a stinging rebuke by voters in his efforts to reach 400 paar in the Lok Sabha,” Ramesh stated, suggesting that achieving “Asli 400 paar” through the proposed minimum wage could rectify economic disparities.
The call for a substantial increase in minimum wages underscores the Congress’ commitment to economic equity and social justice in India.
