19th January 2011
English Press Note
150 Signatories to an Open Statement on Minimum Wages in the MGNREGA
January 30, 2011
Press Note – 18th January 2011
January 18, 2011
Press Note – 17th January 2011
17th January 2011
Press invite: Invitation to the National Seminar on a Rational Minimum Wage Policy- 18th, 19th January, 2011
Bandhua Mukti Morcha (BMM), along with the Planning Commission, is organising a meeting on minimum wages tomorrow and the day after on minimum wages at NMML, New Delhi. Speakers in the opening plenary, chaired by Justice A. P. Shah (Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court) include Montek Singh Ahluwalia (Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission), Harish Rawat (Minister of State, Ministry of Labour and Employment), Sitaram Yetchury (Politburo Member, Communist Party of India [Marxist]), Harsh Mander (Member, National Advisory Council), Aruna Roy (Member, National Advisory Council), Prof. Trilochan Sastry (Dean, IIM Bangalore), Prof. Jayati Ghosh (economist) and a team of recently released bonded labourers. The meeting will be inaugurated by Naurti bai from Harmada village who was the leader of the agitation that lead to the famous Supreme Court judgement of Sanjit Roy v. the State of Rajasthan establishing the payment of anything less than minimum wages by any agency to be forced labour. Several politicians, bureaucrats, jurists, academics, economists, media persons, activists of repute and other eminent public intellectuals will also be attending.
This meeting is of significance since it is the first public consultation on the issue of minimum wages after the Prime Minister of India wrote to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council stating that “statutorily the wage rate under MGNREGA is delinked and independent of provisions of the Minimum Wages Act” in response to her letter to him saying that “workers under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act need to be paid minimum wages.” She also wrote that he may “give suitable directions” to this effect.
As you know, the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and Suchna evum Rozgar ka Adhikar Abhiyan (S R Abhiyan) have been agitating on the issue of non-payment of minimum wages on MGNREGA works in the recent past, and have been concerned with the issue of minimum wages for many years now. It has been suggested that we talk to, and invite others who are in a position to make a contribution on this issue of crucial importance to workers from the unorganized sector, to attend this consultation. At a time when the Minimum Wage Act itself is being undermined, it is critical that all interested people come together to protect this long standing right.
Below is the invitation for the meeting which contains further details. The tentative programme schedule is attached.
____________________________
Dear Friends
The Bandhua Mukti Morcha (BMM) in co-operation with the Planning Commission, and in collaboration with The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library is holding a two day long ‘National Seminar on Rational Minimum Wage Policy for the Unorganized Sector’ on 18th and 19th January, 2011 in the the Auditorium and Seminar Room of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Teen Murti, New Delhi.
As you know, the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and Suchna evum Rozgar ka Adhikar Abhiyan (S R Abhiyan) have been agitating on the issue of non-payment of minimum wages on MGNREGA works in the recent past, and have been concerned with the issue of minimum wages for many years now. It has been suggested that we talk to, and invite others who are in a position to make a contribution on this issue of crucial importance to workers from the unorganized sector, to attend this consultation. At a time when the Minimum Wage Act itself is being undermined, it is critical that all interested people come together to protect this long standing right.
We request you to spare some time and attend this seminar. We would be happy if you could come for both the days. But in case you cannot, please do come for the two plenaries. The opening plenary on the first day titled ‘Minimum Wages: A Non Negotiable Fundamental Right’ from 11:00am – 1: 30pm will be held in the Auditorium and will be chaired by Justice A. P Shah. The speakers of the session will include social activist Aruna Roy, Swami Agnivesh and social activist Harsh Mander. The second plenary on the 19th January from 10:00- 12:00pm, titled as ‘Making Minimum Wages Work: The role of the State and the Market’ will be chaired by Justice Verma. The speakers for this session will include Professor Mohan Gopal, Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal; Shri.K B Saxena, Former Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development and Dr B D Sharma
Looking forward to your participation,
With regards
Aruna and Nikhil
For further queries, please contact:
Nikhil Dey- +919414994180
Ruchi Gupta- +919910206490
Rakshita Swamy- +919818838588
January 17, 2011
Press Note – 11th January 2011
January 11, 2011
Press Note – 9th January 2011
9th January 2011
Hindi Press Note
English Press Note
Minimum wages as on November 2010 as per Labour Ministry
States in which NREGA wages are below minimum wages
January 5, 2011
Press Note – 5th January 2011
5th January 2011
Hindi press note
English press note
Annexure 1 – Letter from Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India to Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council (NAC)
Annexure 2 – Ministry of Labour’s note to the NAC on payment of minimum wages in the MGNREGA
Annexure 3 – Opinion of the Ms. India Jaising, Additional Solicitor General of India
Annexure 4 – Opinion of the Solicitor General of India
Annexure 6 – Letter from Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council (NAC) to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
Annexure 7 – NAC consensus on payment of minimum wages in the MGNREGA
Annexure 8 – Letter to the NAC from Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
Annexure 9 – Clarification offered to the NAC from Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance on the above letter
Annexure 10 – Open letter from eminent jurists and lawyers
Annexure 11 – Letter from K. Rosaiah, (then) Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh to Dr. Mammohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
Annexure 12 – Letter from Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India (Page 1)
Annexure 12 – Letter from Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India (Page 2)
January 5, 2011
Andhra Pradesh High Court order and show cause notice
Andhra Pradesh High Court Order
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 1
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 2
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 3
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 4
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 5
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 6
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 7
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 8
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 9
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 10
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 11
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 12
Andhra Pradesh High Court show cause notice – Page 13
Andhra Pradesh Attorney General letter to Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India – Page 1
Andhra Pradesh Attorney General letter to Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India – Page 2
December 23, 2010
Press Note – 23rd December 2010
23rd December 2010
Press invite
Hindi press note
English press note
Details of bonded labourers
December 18, 2010
Press Note – 17th December 2010
17th December 2010
Hindi Press Note
English Press Note
Mazdoor Haq Yatra and Satyagraha 