NEW DELHI: The Centre has unveiled an increase in minimum wage rates for workers in the unorganised sector by revising the variable dearness allowance (VDA).
The minimum wage rates are categorised based on skill levels – unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled – and by geographical area: A, B, and C (categorised by cost of living).
After revision, minimum wage rates in area ‘A’ for workers in construction, sweeping, cleaning, loading and unloading for unskilled work will be Rs 783 a day ( Rs 20,358 per month), according to the statement.”This adjustment is aimed at helping workers cope with the rising cost of living,” said an official statement.
Workers engaged in building construction, loading and unloading, watch and ward, sweeping, cleaning, housekeeping, mining, and agriculture within central sphere establishments, among others will benefit from the revised wage rates. The new wage rates take effect from Oct 1. The last revision was done in Apr 2024.
For employees in the watch and ward (with arms), the revised minimum wages would be Rs 1,035 per day for area A, Rs 954 for B and Rs 868 for C. For those without arms, the new rates would be Rs 954 for A, Rs 868 for B and Rs 739 for C. For those in the agriculture sector, the revised rates for unskilled workers in area A would be Rs 500, B Rs 457, and C Rs 452. For semi-skilled and unskilled supervisory workers, it would be Rs 546 for A, Rs 502 for B and Rs 462 for C. For skilled and clerical workers, the revised rate in area A works out to Rs 593, Rs 546 for B and Rs 501 for C. For highly skilled workers, it’s Rs 656 for area A, Rs 611 for B and Rs 546 for C, according to details posted on microblogging site X.