Can you raise the price of labour?

Even in reputed PSU, unskilled labourers who constitute the major part of labour force in the industry are given mere Rs. 174 conforming the minimum wage act for eight hours continuous work in severe condition. It is the price decided by policy makers for the mere existence of labourers? All engineers and workmen are given the gift of profit every year, but the labourers always get the minimum possible wage decided by the government. Can it not be Rs. 200 or more?

In stead the dragon of contract system eats some parts of their wages. Except a few gifted labourers, all have to be satisfied with mere Rs. 110 or Rs. 120. Some amount is eaten by the contract. There are cases where the men of contractors collect Rs. 400 to Rs. 500 from labourers for keeping them on job.

Unfortunately they are disorganized and they couldn't afford to unite. Secondly there is not much use of giving cash money to them unless given education how to manage family well and develop aspiration for the betterment of their children. Without that they would waste their money on extra wine.

How to check this problem?

1. Develop some way to check all the above mentioned wrongdoings.

2. There is need of research over contract system.

3. To improve the government school or opening specialized school for the children of labourers should be in priority.

4. Awareness program should be organized for the labourers.

Finally companies have to change their motto of making profit, and believe as the agent of change. Specially in the case of PSU, performance of one station should be measured in both terms, in terms of profit and utilization of that profit (at least 10%) on the development of local community with special focus on labourers. If labourers from outside are coming, they should not be allowed to live on company's land or otherwise they should be given a small home to stay happily.

Thinking the problems of labourers is incorrigible in the interest of the company must be changed and one should think that there is always a innovative way to be found out where company as well as labourers would avail.

Without that we keep reading news, "Rural poor earns Rs.17 a day".