Government increases minimum wage rates for workers

The central government has announced an increase in minimum wage rates through a revision of the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA). This revision is intended to help workers, particularly those in the unorganised sector, better manage the rising cost of living.
This will be effective from October 1, 2024.
The revised wages will benefit workers across various sectors, including building construction, loading and unloading, watch and ward, sweeping, cleaning, housekeeping, mining, and agriculture. These sectors are categorised under central sphere establishments.
The minimum wage rates are structured according to skill levels — unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled — and are further differentiated by geographical regions categorised as areas A, B, and C.
Under the new revision for Area “A,” unskilled workers in sectors such as construction and cleaning will earn Rs 783 per day, amounting to Rs 20,358 per month. Semi-skilled workers will now receive Rs 868 per day, or Rs 22,568 per month, while skilled and clerical workers will earn Rs 954 per day, translating to Rs 24,804 per month. Highly skilled workers, along with watch and ward personnel carrying arms, will receive Rs 1,035 per day, which totals Rs 26,910 per month.
This revision marks the second wage adjustment for 2024, following the previous update in April. The government revises the VDA biannually, in April and October, based on fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index for industrial workers.
Further details regarding the updated wage rates for various sectors, categories, and regions can be found on the website of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) at clc.gov.in.