Darj hotel salary slab to stay until apex court order

SNS, 23 June 2020, Darjeeling: The Jan Mukti Unorganised Sector Labour Union (JMUSLU) today said that the salary slab for hotel workers that has recently been agreed upon would be applicable for the months from July to September or until the Supreme Court issues a verdict on the same.

A committee formed to resolve the payment of salary and wages for people working in the hotel industry had earlier fixed a slab in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic for the months of April, May and June.

After a meeting of the committee today, which the Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALL) also attended, the NSW hotel section president, Saran

Thami, said. "It was decided that the same slab decided earlier would be followed for now, until the Supreme court gives a verdict on the wages to be given to hotel workers."

According to the salary slab agreed in the earlier meeting, those earning less than Rs 3000 would be paid the full arnount those drawing up to 10,000 would be getting 50 percent of the salary or a minimum of Rs 3000, whichever is greater. Similarly, those drawing between Rs 10,000 and 20,000 will be paid 40 percent salary or a minimum of Rs 6,000.Those having a salary of more than 20,000 will be getting 30 percent of the salary or a minimum of Rs 7,500.

It was also decided then that hotels having salary dues should make the payment for the month of April and May by 17 June, while for the month of June, the payment should be made within 7 July.

Speaking about the pending salary, Mr Thami said, "There are some hotels which have not yet disbursed the salary, while some are only paying Rs 1000. The ALC was also present in the meeting today and they will be taking whatever legal action that needs to be taken against such hotel owners."

The committee has 11 members which include representative; of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Police, hotel owners, transport associations and unions affiliated to different political parties.