‘Biryani can cost ₹ 500, dosa ₹ 150’: Bengaluru hoteliers warn of hike in food prices amid wage and fuel prices | Today’s news
After the Siddaramaiah-led waiver hiked minimum wages for workers in Karnataka by 60 percent and the central government announced a fuel price revision, hoteliers warned of soaring food prices.
The price of one plate of idli could touch ₹80 while masala dosa can cost ₹150.
Karnataka State Hotels’ Association (KSHA) president GK Shetty said in a statement, “Minimum wages have increased by almost 60%. So food prices will have to be increased. A plate of idli which now costs ₹50 can rise up to ₹80 and a masala dosa which is now standing around ₹80 – ₹90, can shoot up to ₹150.”
Hoteliers warned that prices for almost every item on restaurant menus could rise sharply. Vegetarian meals are currently priced between ₹150 a ₹200 can be increased to ₹250– ₹300 while the biryani dishes cost ₹300– ₹350 could climb almost to ₹500
“Operating costs will increase drastically”
Shetty said raising minimum wages would put additional pressure on the hospitality sector, which is already struggling with rising operating costs.
“Operating costs will increase drastically. This will particularly affect small and family businesses, which are already struggling with rising costs. The price of commercial LPG cylinders has been increased from ₹1884 to ₹3,152 within a few months. Food, electricity tariffs, garbage have increased,” he said.
Speaking to the Deccan Herald, hoteliers in Bengaluru said they were forced to increase food prices on select items to cope with the situation. “It’s hit us twice. We have to raise workers’ wages and pay increased transport costs. We can’t cover the costs until we increase the prices of meals, especially oil-based items like dosa, puri and our multi-meal meal packs.”
Rohit Shankar, owner of Way Cafe in Kalyan Nagar, told DH: “I run a small restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner – mostly rice. I had two workers but I only have one, I had to send the other away because I can’t afford to pay him. I have increased the prices of some dishes by ₹20 per plate”.
What Karnataka Revised Wages Look Like:
- Bengaluru workers will get the minimum ₹23,376 per month.
- Skilled workers will be eligible ₹31,114 per month in the national capital.
- Adjusted rates in other parts of Karnataka will range between ₹19,300 a ₹21,251 per month.
Labor Minister Santosh Lad on Saturday described the move as “meeting a long-pending demand of the labor community across Karnataka”.
The minister said the revised wage notification aims to enhance economic security for workers in the unorganized sector and employees in specified industries in the state while bringing thousands of workers under the common framework for the first time.
“Our government has issued a notification to increase the minimum wages of workers by 60 percent. With this, our government has fulfilled the long-pending demand of the labor community in the state,” Lad said in a post on ‘X’.
