Hyderabad: Former Governor and former Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya criticised the Telangana government’s revised minimum wages and demanded a substantial increase for workers across all employment categories.
In a statement issued in Hyderabad on Thursday, Dattatreya said workers waited nearly 14 years for a proper wage revision. However, he alleged that the government announced only a limited increase despite rising living costs.
He said expenses related to education, healthcare, house rent and transport increased sharply in recent years. Therefore, he urged the government to revise wage structures in line with current economic realities.
Dattatreya proposed a minimum wage of ₹22,000 for unskilled workers. He also demanded ₹27,000 for semi-skilled workers, ₹31,000 for skilled workers and ₹36,000 for highly skilled employees.
The BJP leader said nearly 1.2 crore workers in Telangana deserved wages that ensured dignity and financial security for their families.
Telangana workers wages must match inflation
Dattatreya said wage structures should reflect the growing financial burden on workers and their households. He added that economic growth carried little value unless labourers benefited from the state’s development.
He stated that workers formed the backbone of economic activity and contributed significantly to Telangana’s progress. Therefore, he called on the government to adopt worker-friendly policies during the wage revision process.
The former Union minister also stressed that fair salaries would improve living standards and strengthen social security for labourers across the state.
He urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure better financial protection for workers amid rising inflation and household expenses.
