Lok Sabha Question No. 1176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Increase in Minimum Wages
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Gaddam Ranjith Reddy, Kavitha Malothu, Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta, Dayakar Pasunoori

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1176

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021

## INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGES

## 1176. DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA:

SHRI PASUNOORI DAYAKAR: SHRIMATI KAVITHA MALOTHU:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Ministry  justifies  deferring  mandatory  increase  in minimum wages for a year;
- (b)whether  it  impacts  150  million  workers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (c)whether  this  results  in  loss  of  Rs.  7,500  crores  to  workers  who otherwise would have got this amount as a part of hike in minimum wages?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c): There is no deferring of revision of minimum wages in the Central  sphere.The  Central  Government  revises  the  basic  rates  of minimum wages for employees engaged in Scheduled employments in the Central Sphere every 5 years as stipulated under section 3 (1) (b) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The basic rate of minimum wages for the scheduled employments in the Central sphere was last revised in 2017. Further, in order to protect the minimum wages against inflation, the  Central  Government  revises  the  Variable  Dearness  Allowance (V.D.A) on basic rates of minimum wages every six months effective from 1st April and 1st October every year on the basis of Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers and accordingly it was last revised w.e.f.  01.10.2021.  Statement  showing  increased  rates  of  wages  on account  of  revision  in  VDA  from  01.04.2021  to  01.10.2021  is  at Annexure 'A' .

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1176 FOR 06.12.2021.

Statement  showing  increased  rates  of  wages  on  account  of  revision  in  VDA  from  01.04.2021  to 01.10.2021

| Name of Scheduled Employment   | Category of Worker                                                                                                     | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                                                                    | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                                                                    | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                                                                    | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                                                                    | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                                                                    | Rates of wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)                                                                    |
|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                |                                                                                                                        | Area-A                                                                                                             | Area-A                                                                                                             | Area-B                                                                                                             | Area-B                                                                                                             | Area-C                                                                                                             | Area-C                                                                                                             |
|                                |                                                                                                                        | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   |
| 1. Agriculture                 | Unskilled                                                                                                              | 411                                                                                                                | 417                                                                                                                | 375                                                                                                                | 380                                                                                                                | 372                                                                                                                | 377                                                                                                                |
| 1. Agriculture                 | Semi- Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory                                                                                    | 449                                                                                                                | 455                                                                                                                | 413                                                                                                                | 419                                                                                                                | 379                                                                                                                | 384                                                                                                                |
| 1. Agriculture                 | Skilled/Clerical                                                                                                       | 488                                                                                                                | 495                                                                                                                | 449                                                                                                                | 455                                                                                                                | 412                                                                                                                | 418                                                                                                                |
| 1. Agriculture                 | Highly Skilled                                                                                                         | 540                                                                                                                | 547                                                                                                                | 502                                                                                                                | 509                                                                                                                | 449                                                                                                                | 455                                                                                                                |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet):     | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): | 1. Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): |
| 2. Stone Mines                 |                                                                                                                        | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (a) Soft Soil                                                                                                          | 435                                                                                                                | 435                                                                                                                | 435                                                                                                                | 441                                                                                                                | 441                                                                                                                | 441                                                                                                                |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (b) Soft Soil with Rock                                                                                                | 654                                                                                                                | 654                                                                                                                | 654                                                                                                                | 663                                                                                                                | 663                                                                                                                | 663                                                                                                                |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (c) Rock                                                                                                               | 866                                                                                                                | 866                                                                                                                | 866                                                                                                                | 878                                                                                                                | 878                                                                                                                | 878                                                                                                                |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | 2. Removal and Staking of rejected stones with 50 meters lead 1.5 meters lift (Per 2.831 cubic meters/100 cubic feet): | 349                                                                                                                | 349                                                                                                                | 349                                                                                                                | 354                                                                                                                | 354                                                                                                                | 354                                                                                                                |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | 3. Stone breaking or                                                                                                   | Stone Crushing                                                                                                     | for the stone size                                                                                                 | (Per truck load                                                                                                    | of 5.662 cubic                                                                                                     | meters/200 cubic                                                                                                   | feet):                                                                                                             |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (a) 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches                                                                                             | 2666                                                                                                               | 2666                                                                                                               | 2666                                                                                                               | 2701                                                                                                               | 2701                                                                                                               | 2701                                                                                                               |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (b) Above 1.5 Inches to 3.0 Inches                                                                                     | 2280                                                                                                               | 2280                                                                                                               | 2280                                                                                                               | 2310                                                                                                               | 2310                                                                                                               | 2310                                                                                                               |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (c) Above 3.0 Inches to 5 Inches                                                                                       | 1338                                                                                                               | 1338                                                                                                               | 1338                                                                                                               | 1356                                                                                                               | 1356                                                                                                               | 1356                                                                                                               |
| 2. Stone Mines                 | (d) Above 5.0 Inches                                                                                                   | 1099                                                                                                               | 1099                                                                                                               | 1099                                                                                                               | 1114                                                                                                               | 1114                                                                                                               | 1114                                                                                                               |
|                                |                                                                                                                        | Area-A                                                                                                             | Area-A                                                                                                             | Area-B                                                                                                             | Area-B                                                                                                             | Area-C                                                                                                             | Area-C                                                                                                             |
|                                |                                                                                                                        | As on 01.04.2021 645                                                                                               | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.04.2021                                                                                                   | As on 01.10.2021                                                                                                   |
| 3. Sweeping and Cleaning*      | Unskilled                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                    | 654                                                                                                                | 539                                                                                                                | 546                                                                                                                | 431                                                                                                                | 437                                                                                                                |
| 4. Watch and Ward              | Without Arms                                                                                                           | 784                                                                                                                | 795                                                                                                                | 714                                                                                                                | 724                                                                                                                | 609                                                                                                                | 617                                                                                                                |
|                                | With Arms                                                                                                              | 853                                                                                                                | 864                                                                                                                | 784                                                                                                                | 795                                                                                                                | 714                                                                                                                | 724                                                                                                                |

| 5. Loading and Unloading#   | Unskilled                           | 645              | 654              | 654              | 539              | 546              | 431              | 431              | 437              |
|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
| 6. Construction^            | Unskilled                           | 645              | 654              | 654              | 539              | 546              | 431              | 431              | 437              |
| 6. Construction^            | Semi- Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory | 714              | 724              | 724              | 609              | 617              | 505              | 505              | 512              |
| 6. Construction^            | Skilled/Clerical                    | 784              | 795              | 795              | 714              | 724              | 609              | 609              | 617              |
| 6. Construction^            | Highly Skilled                      | 853              | 864              | 864              | 784              | 795              | 714              | 714              | 724              |
| 7. Non-Coal Mines $         |                                     | Above Ground     | Above Ground     | Above Ground     | Above Ground     | Below Ground     | Below Ground     | Below Ground     | Below Ground     |
|                             |                                     | As on 01.04.2021 | As on 01.04.2021 | As on 01.10.2021 | As on 01.10.2021 | As on 01.04.2021 | As on 01.04.2021 | As on 01.10.2021 | As on 01.10.2021 |
|                             | Unskilled                           | 431              | 431              | 437              | 437              | 539              | 539              | 546              | 546              |
|                             | Semi- Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory | 539              | 539              | 546              | 546              | 645              | 645              | 654              | 654              |
|                             | Skilled/Clerical                    | 645              | 645              | 654              | 654              | 752              | 752              | 762              | 762              |
|                             | Highly Skilled                      | 752              | 752              | 762              | 762              | 840              | 840              | 851              | 851              |

*Employees engaged in the employment of Sweeping and Cleaning excluding Activities prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.

#Employees engaged in the employment of Loading and Unloading in (i) Goods Sheds, Parcel Offices of Railways; (ii) Other Goods Sheds, Godowns, Warehouses and other similar employments;  (iii) Docks and  Ports;  and  (iv)  Passengers  Goods  and  Cargo  Carried  out  at  Airports  (Both  International  and Domestic).

^Employees  engaged  in  the  employment  ofconstruction  or  maintenance  of  Roads  or  Runways  or  in Building Operations including laying down  Underground Electric, Wireless, Radio, Television, Telephone,  Telegraph  and  Overseas  Communication  Cables  and  similar  other  Underground  Cabling Work, Electric Lines, Water Supply Lines and Sewerage Pipe Lines.

$Employees engaged in the employment of Gypsum Mines, Barytes Mines, Bauxite Mines, Manganese Mines,  China  Clay  Mines,  Kyanite  Mines,  Copper  Mines,Clay  Mines,  Magnesite  Mines,  White  Clay Mines, Stone Mines, Steatite Mines (including the mines producing Soap Stones and Talc), Ochre Mines, Asbestos  Mines,  Fire  Clay  Mines,  Chromite  Mines,  Quartzite  Mines,  Quartz  Mines,  Silica  Mines, Graphite Mines, Felspar Mines, Laterite Mines, Dolomite Mines, Red Oxide Mines, Wolfram Mines, Iron Ore Mines, Granite Mines, Rock Phosphate Mines, Hematite Mines, Marble and Calcite Mines, Uranium Mines, Mica Mines, Lignite Mines, Gravel Mines, Slate and Magnetite Mines.

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