Women domestic workers demonstrate in Shillong on Monday. A Telegraph picture

Shillong, Dec. 1: The domestic workers today resorted to a novel protest, demanding a hike in daily wage by beating their plates with spoons.

Nearly 22 organisations across the state held a public meeting at Malki here under the banner of the Campaign for Enhancement of Daily Wages. They demanded that the government increase the minimum wage of an unskilled labourer from Rs 70 to Rs 135 and that of a skilled labourer who is at present getting Rs 85 to Rs 185.

The procession of the domestic workers, mostly under the banner of the NGO, Meghalaya Domestic Workers Movement, began at Fire Brigade Ground at Laitumkhrah and ended at Malki ground where NGO leaders addressed the gathering.

Social activist Angela Rangad, spearheading the campaign, said at the meeting that there was an urgent need to hike the wages of the workers in the unorganised sector .

According to Rangad, the Meghalaya government should review the wages frequently considering the rise in the prices of essential commodities.

The political secretary of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), S.K. Blah, said the labour department should initiate urgent steps to fix the minimum wage.

The gathering, comprising mostly women, shouted slogans against the delay on the part of the government in raising the minimum wages.

Recently, members of more than 30 NGOs demanding for minimum wage, had met chief minister Donkupar Roy and demanded an amendment of the Minimum Wage Act.

The state government has set up a committee to examine a proposal to hike the present wages to Rs 110 for unskilled, Rs 125 for semi-skilled, Rs 140 for skilled and Rs 150 for highly skilled labourers.