Assam to set minimum wage for sales promotion establishments

GUWAHATI: For the first time ever, the Assam government is out to fix the minimum wages for sales promotion establishments. It has made a draft proposal fixing Rs 12,500 as the minimum rate of wages for employees employed in sales promotion establishments.

These sales promotion establishments include pharmaceutical industries, cosmetics, soaps, household cleaners and disinfectants, readymade garments, soft drink manufacturing industries, biscuits and confectioneries, ayurvedic, unani and homeopathic medicines; automobiles, including accessories and spare parts, surgical equipment, artificial prosthesis and diagnostics; electronics, computers, including accessories and spares, electrical appliances, paints and varnishes.

According to the state government, in addition to the rate of wages as may be fixed, the employee will be entitled to a variable dearness allowance (VDA) at 75% of the rise or fall in the index point on the All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for industrial workers.

The rates of the VDA will be revised every six months on the basis of change in the CPI number during the intervening period.