Govt hikes minimum wage rates for workers up to Rs 1,035 per day
New Delhi, Sep 26: The Union government on Thursday announced an increase in minimum wage rates for workers, with the highest daily wage now reaching up to Rs 1,035, following a revision of the variable dearness allowance.
This move aims to assist workers in managing the growing cost of living, according to a statement from the labour ministry.
Post-revision, workers in area ‘A’ engaged in unskilled work such as construction, sweeping, cleaning, and loading & unloading will receive Rs 783 per day (Rs 20,358 per month).
For semi-skilled workers, the wage will be Rs 868 per day (Rs 22,568 per month), while skilled, clerical, and watch & ward without arms personnel will earn Rs 954 daily (Rs 24,804 per month).
Highly skilled workers and watch & ward with arms will see their wages rise to Rs 1,035 per day (Rs 26,910 per month).
These new rates will come into effect from October 1, 2024, with the last revision having been done in April 2024.
The wage structure is categorized by skill level—unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled—and further divided by geographical area—A, B, and C.
In a key initiative to support workers, particularly in the unorganized sector, the Central Government revised the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), benefiting those in fields such as building construction, loading and unloading, watch and ward, sweeping, cleaning, housekeeping, mining, and agriculture in central sphere establishments, the labour ministry added.
The Central Government revises the VDA twice yearly, effective April 1 and October 1, based on the six-month average increase in the Consumer Price Index for industrial workers.
Further details on wage rates by sector, category, and area can be accessed on the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) website (clc.gov.in).—(QNS)
