NA body wants Railways to implement minimum wage system

The N.A standing committee for Railways has advised the ministry to increase the salary of contract employees to Rs.7000 within 30-day period.The meeting convened by Chairman Ayaz Sadiq on Monday, also deliberated on other important Railways’ issues like approved and attested documentation for each transaction attached, with any accords thus signed, and transparency in purchase of newer engines, for which a 5-member technical team has been formed.The chairman standing committee expressed his great chagrin over the fact that despite PM’s announcement of minimum wages of Rs.7000 for labor, Railways had failed to implement the scheme, which was also tantamount to contempt of Court, as Supreme Court had also endorsed it.Clarifying the issue, cabinet representative, central labor advisor Javed Iqbal informed that PM’s directive for Rs.7000 minimum salary pertained to private industrial and commercial sector, and did not apply to ministries. However Supreme Court’s verdict in case of PTCL and Lady Health workers issue, had endorsed this minimum salary policy for all governmental employees.The standing committee directed Railway officials to implement the policy of Rs.7000 as minimum salary for Railways’ contract employees, and resolve the issue in coordination with Finance ministry.The issue of regularization of contract employees was also raised in the meeting, with directives issued to regularize contract employees, whose tenure with Railways’ equaled three years or above.The committee also deliberated over the issue of purchase of locomotive engines, with directives to follow prudent measures and regulations in their purchases, following the routine of tenders.The committee also noted that Railways’ annual production amounted to Rs.24 billion in 2008, which had decreased to Rs.18 billion, while the committee desired an annual target of Rs.22 billion, by taking practical prudent steps.