Central government gave a big gift to the workers, increased the minimum wage

New Delhi: Before the festivals, the government has given a big gift to the workers, especially the workers of the unorganized sector. The central government has announced to increase the minimum wage rate for the workers working in this sector. The government has made this announcement in view of the rising cost of living due to inflation. The new rates will come into effect from October 1, 2024.

The government has announced an increase in the minimum wage rates by amending the variable dearness allowance (VDA). The move is aimed at helping workers deal with the rising cost of living. Workers engaged in various sectors including building construction, loading and unloading, watch and ward, sweeping, cleaning, housekeeping, mining and agriculture in central sector establishments will benefit from the revised wage rates. The new wage rates will come into effect from October 1, 2024. The last revision was done in April 2024. The minimum wage rates have been classified on the basis of skill level- unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled as well as geographical zones- A, B and C.

After the revision, the minimum wage rate for unskilled workers engaged in construction, sweeping, cleaning, loading and unloading in zone ‘A’ will be Rs 783 per day (Rs 20,358 per month), Rs 868 per day (Rs 22,568 per month) for semi-skilled, Rs 954 per day (Rs 24,804 per month) for skilled, clerical and unarmed watchman and Rs 1,035 per day (Rs 26,910 per month) for highly skilled and armed watchman. The Central Government revises the VDA twice a year, from 1st April and 1st October, on the basis of six-month average rise in the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers.