Arvind Kejriwal announced 50% hike in minimum wages on Independence Day.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's big announcement about 50% hike in minimum wages on Independence Day has failed to excite a section of its target audience.
Addressing the people at Delhi's Chattrasal Stadium, Mr Kejriwal had said: "On the whole, an unskilled labourer gets Rs 9,500. We are increasing it to approximately Rs 14,000... Semi-skilled workers get Rs 10,500, which will now be 15,500 and a skilled labourer will get 17,000 instead of 11,600."
But the announcement is being questioned by many of the people who stand to benefit from it.
NDTV travelled to Peeragari in Outer Delhi which houses a huge number of factories, where most of the labourers said they get paid so little, the hikes will not make much of a difference.
Most claimed they do not even get paid the minimum wages that they are supposed to get.
"I work in a shoe factory. We get Rs 3,500 a month for working 8 hours. I have to manage very expensive medicines, just one injection costs Rs 800. It is impossible to manage," said Lata, who migrated to Delhi about 4 years ago from Bihar.
"Instead of making announcements, Kejriwal should come here get a taste of reality. We barely manage food. For working 8 hours, we get only Rs 4,500," said an angry Arjun, who has been working in Delhi for the last 8 years.
Another labourer pointed out what he said were the futility of protests.
"If we revolt and sit on dharna, there will be 9 other people waiting to take my job. I will be chucked out in a minute. Even officers, when they come for checking, are paid off to remain silent," he said.
Acknowledging the problem of implementation, Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai said, "There will be amendments brought to the bill. We plan to increase the penalty from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 and the jail term (for violation) from 6 months to 3 years".