Rate of Minimum Wages Revised for Central sphere Employees

At a time when the country is struggling with the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, in a major relief to different category of workers engaged in various scheduled employments in the central sphere, the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has notified and revised the rate of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) with effect from 1.4.2021.

The VDA is revised on the basis of average Consumer Price Index for industrial workers (CPI-IW) a price index compiled by Labour Bureau. The average CPI-IW for the months of July to December 2020 was used for undertaking the latest VDA revision.

Shri Santosh Gangwar, Labour & Employment Minister said “this will benefit about 1.50 crore workers engaged in various scheduled employments in central sphere across the country. This hike in VDA will support these workers particularly in the current pandemic times”.

Shri Gangwar also mentioned that orders to this effect have been issued by the CLC(C) and it will be implemented with effect from 1^st April, 2021.

Rates of wages for different categories of employees

Schedule employment	Category of employees	Rate of wages including Variable Dearness Allowance Area wise per day (in Rupees)
		A	B	C
Construction or maintenance of roads or runways or  building operations etc.	Unskilled	645	539	431
	Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisor	714	609	505
	Skilled/Clerical	784	714	609
	Highly Skilled	853	784	714
Sweeping and Cleaning	—	645	539	431
Loading and Unloading workers	—	645	539	431
Watch and Ward	Without Arms	784	714	609
	With Arms	853	784	714
Agriculture	Unskilled	411	375	372
	Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisor	449	413	379
	Skilled/Clerical	488	449	412
	Highly Skilled	540	502	449

For Mines employees

Category	Above Ground	Below Ground
Unskilled	431	539
Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisor	539	645
Skilled/Clerical	645	752
Highly Skilled	752	840

The rates fixed for scheduled employment in Central sphere are applicable to the establishments under the authority of Central Government, Railway Administration, Mines, Oil fields, major ports or any corporation established by the Central Government. These rates are equally applicable to contract and casual employees/workers.

The enforcement of Minimum Wages Act in the Central sphere is ensured through the Inspecting Officers of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) across the country for employees engaged in the scheduled employment in the central sphere.