“Punjab Govt is totally anti-industry”; UCPMA

Ludhiana, September 26, 2012: United Cycle Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) has declared the state government as “totally anti-industry”.

Addressing a joint press conference here today, the UCPMA Spokesperson KK Seth has categorically said the ruling state government was “totally anti-industry” as it was taking decisions that were not in the interest of the industry.

The UCPMA president Gurmeet Singh Kular and other office -bearers were present on the occasion.

Seth told that the state government was in a move to increase minimum wages from about Rs. 4,200 p.m. to Rs. 5,200 p.m. in the future. He told that a deputation of the UCPMA under the leadership of the association president Gurmeet Singh Kular had met Punjab’s Labour Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani in Chandigarh yesterday but he was seen reluctant to make such a big hike.

Both the UCPMA president and spokesperson told that if the proposed minimum wages increased in such a manner then the gap between the employer and the worker would increase, which would not be favourable for growth of the industry. They said the state government also in a move to make a few changes in the law, resulting to which it would be difficult for the industries to work in a smooth manner.

They told that the state government wanted that the industries should give time bound promotions to the workers and also in a move to allow the workers to work for seven and a half hours in a day. “Whereas the government employees work for eight hours in a day in the government offices”, Seth pointed out.

Seth regretted that the ruling alliance government in Punjab wanted to make “harsh” rules for the industries in the state.

The UCPMA leaders also regretted that the state government was about to revise the minimum wages after passage of three years, earlier the revision was done after 5-7 years. They warned that the industries would have no option to think for shifting to other states if the state government continued with its present “anti-industry” policies.

Both Kular and Seth told that they would be taking up this matter with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal through the Punjab Industry Minister Anil Joshi.

Among others, leading industrialist Charanjit Singh Vishavkarma was also present.

After addressing the press conference, Kular spoke to City Air News separately. Watch a video clip with this copy)