The growing inflation in the country and the State has led to demands for increments in salaries and remuneration from various quarters. The latest one being made by the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat last week during the general discussion on the Budget 2023-24 demanded a pay hike and other perks to cope with increasing expenses. He highlighted that the last revision of the MLAs’ remuneration was undertaken in 2011.

Interestingly, former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar who had proposed a 70 percent pay hike didn’t implement the proposal facing criticism. Despite no revision, Goa MLAs currently draw a little less than one lakh rupees, including the allowances but excluding the salaries of their staff. They are also entitled to a vehicle loan of Rs 15 lakh and after ceasing to be an MLA, receive a pension between Rs35,000-Rs 70,000 per month.

According to an analysis of the affidavits filed at the time of the Assembly elections in 2022, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Goa Election Watch pointed outthat the 37 MLAs who sought re-election in 2022 had grown their assets by an average of Rs 6.53 crore within the five-year term of 2017-2022. The 64 percent growth in personal assets was recorded despite the Covid-19 pandemic which affected thousands economically and impacted the markets and the industry severely leading to a high rate of unemployment and underemployment in the following years.

On the other hand, there are the daily wage workers who have been demanding an increase in their daily wages. The Government of Goa last revised the minimum wages payable to various categories of workers in May 2016 and since then the same has not been revised. Labour and Employment Minister Atanasio Monserrate since taking charge in the present government last year has constantly repeated the same statement that the revision of the minimum wages is on the cards and would be done in consultation with the Chief Minister. However, more than a year has elapsed and no concrete steps have been taken in that direction. In November last year, a draft of the revised minimum wages was notified by the government and was kept open for suggestions and objections for a period of two months, however, nothing has been processed and proceeded ever since and the matter has remained in cold storage. 

The Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) had submitted a memorandum that the government ought to consult the industry stakeholders before announcing a revision of the minimum wages. The industry representatives had stated that any hike in wages without taking into confidence the stakeholders would be detrimental and an irrational hike would force labour-intensive units to close down.

Responding to a question in the Assembly in July last year, Monserrate had informed that the minimum wages fixed for the unskilled labour is Rs 307 and Rs 465 for the highly skilled labour, alongwith a variable dearness allowance (VDA) of Rs 85 with effect from April 1, 2022. It implies that unskilled labour earns a salary of Rs 10,192 and highly skilled labour earns a salary of Rs 14,300.

With ever-growing unemployment numbers in the State, the figure stood at 15.91% for the month of March, for the financial year ending 2022-23. Besides, the statistics for underemployment are never known. Post Covid-19 pandemic, thousands have been forced to undertake jobs which pay far less than their education and skills. Labourers have been the worst hit due to the crippling of the labour market and industrial decline due to the impact of the pandemic. Therefore one can only imagine the plight of the unskilled labour who work on daily wages to make ends meet.

Between the two classes of MLAs and the labourers, those who work in the various categories of collar jobs are either not represented or under-represented. To the extent, some of the women working in pre-primary schools in the State take home less pay than the industrial labour. With all the good intentions, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) provides almost similar if not lesser pay to those engaged in various sectors despite their education achievements.

Therefore, while the MLAs have a legitimate demand for a pay hike due to inflation, the elected representatives responsible for the welfare of the citizens ought to use the same yardstick for their electorate and ensure that aspirations of a welfare State are achieved.