Lok Sabha Question No. 2890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Increase in Wages of Labourers including Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami, Bhagirath Chaudhary

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2890 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## INCREASE IN WAGES OF LABOURERS INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL

LABOURERS

†2890. SHRI DULAL CHANDRA GOSWAMI:

SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a)whether the Government has taken any decision to increase the wages of labourers including farm labourers in view of rising prices in the country
- especially in Bihar and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether there is any mechanism to ensure the payment of minimum wages
- fixed by the Government and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)the details of the steps taken for improving the living standard and welfare of the farm labourers in the country during the last eight years;
- (d)the details of the farm labourers benefitted from the above schemes in Ajmer and Jaipur constituencies of Rajasthan and the action plan of the Government for their upliftment;
- (e)the details of the welfare schemes run by the Government particularly for rural and farm labourers;
- (f)the  amount  allocated  in  all  the  districts  of  Rajasthan  under  the  above schemes during the last four years; and
- (g)the steps being taken by the Government to meet the requirements of farm labourers with regard to comprehensive education, living conditions and daily requirements etc?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Central Government  and  the  State  Governments,  as  appropriate  Government,  fix, review and revise the minimum wages of the employees   employed  in  the Scheduled   employments  including agriculture   under  their   respective jurisdiction.    Accordingly,   the  minimum  rates  of wages in the scheduled

employments in the Central sphere were revised by the Central Government in  2017.  Further,  in  order  to  take  care  of  the  rising  prices,  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 of every year on the basis of Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers. V.D.A. was last revised w.e.f. 01.04.2023. A statement showing increase in the rates of wages on account of increasing V.D.A payable to the employees engaged in the Scheduled employments including agriculture in the Central

Sphere is annexed.

(b): Enforcement of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, including  payment  of  the  minimum  wages,  is  done  by  the  authorities statutorily appointed for the purpose by the appropriate Governments, i.e. the Central Government  and  the State Governments, in their respective jurisdiction. The enforcement in the Central sphere is secured through the inspecting  officers  of  the  Chief  Labour  Commissioner  (Central)  commonly designated as Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM) and in the State Sphere through the State Enforcement Machinery. The designated inspecting officers conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of any case of  non-payment  or  under-payment  of  minimum  wages,  they  direct  the employers  to  make  payment  of  the  shortfall  of  wages.  In  case  of  noncompliance,  penal  provisions  prescribed  under  Section  22  of  the  Act  are taken recourse to.

(c) to (g): The Government is implementing  the Unorganised Workers social security Act (UWSS), 2008, to provide social security to unorganized workers including  farm  labourers  by  formulating  suitable  welfare  schemes  on  the matters  relating  to:  (i)  life  and  disability  cover;  (ii)  health  and  maternity benefits;  (iii)  old  age  protection;  and  (iv)  any  other  benefit  as  may  be determined by the Central Government.

Life  and  disability  cover  is  provided  through  Pradhan  Mantri Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima Yojana  (PMSBY)  based  on  contribution  made  by  subscriber.  PMJJBY  is available to the people in the age group of 18 to 50 years and it provides for risk coverage Rs. 2.00 lakh in case of death, due to any reason, at an annual premium of Rs. 436/-. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is available to the people in the age group of 18 to 70 years with risk coverage of Rs 2.00 lakh in case of accidental death or total permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial permanent disability on payment of annual premium of Rs. 20.

The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) provides an annual health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per eligible family for  secondary  and  tertiary  care  hospitalization  corresponding  to  1949 treatment procedures across 27 specialties. In order to provide old age social security cover, the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme in 2019. It provides monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The unorganized workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs.15000/- or less and who are not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS  (Govt.  funded)  can  join  the  PM-SYM  Scheme.  Under  this scheme 50% of the monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. The Government has launched e-Shram portal in August, 2021 to create National Database of Unorganised Workers and to facilitate delivery of social security schemes/welfare schemes to the unorganised workers. As on  02.08.2023  more  than  28.99  crore  unorganised  workers  have  been registered on e-Shram portal out of which about 1.30 crore are registered from Rajasthan .

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 2890 for answer on 07.08.2023 regarding Increase in Wages of Labourers including  Agricultural Labourers by Shri Dulal Chandra Goswami & Shri Bhagirath Choudhary.

## Statement showing increased rates of minimum wages on account of revision of VDA from 19.01.2017 to 01.04.2023

| Scheduled Employment   | Category of Workers                                                         | 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                                                                      |
|                        |                                                                             | 19.01.2017                                                                  | 01.04.2023                                                                  | 19.01.201 7                                                                 | 01.04.2023                                                                  | 19.01.2017                                                                  | 01.04.2023                                                                  |
| Agriculture            | Unskilled                                                                   | 333                                                                         | 470                                                                         | 303                                                                         | 429                                                                         | 300                                                                         | 424                                                                         |
| Agriculture            | Semi- skilled/Unski lled Supervisory                                        | 364                                                                         | 513                                                                         | 335                                                                         | 472                                                                         | 307                                                                         | 434                                                                         |
| Agriculture            | Skilled/Cleri cal                                                           | 395                                                                         | 558                                                                         | 364                                                                         | 513                                                                         | 334                                                                         | 471                                                                         |
| Agriculture            | Highly- skilled                                                             | 438                                                                         | 617                                                                         | 407                                                                         | 574                                                                         | 364                                                                         | 513                                                                         |
| Sweeping and Cleaning+ | Unskilled                                                                   | 523                                                                         | 736                                                                         | 437                                                                         | 616                                                                         | 350                                                                         | 494                                                                         |
| Watch and Ward         | Without Arms (Upgraded to skilled with training)                            | 637                                                                         | 897                                                                         | 579                                                                         | 816                                                                         | 494                                                                         | 695                                                                         |
| Watch and Ward         | With Arms (Upgraded to highly skilled for supervision)                      | 693                                                                         | 973                                                                         | 637                                                                         | 897                                                                         | 579                                                                         | 816                                                                         |
| Loading & Unloading#   | Unskilled                                                                   | 523                                                                         | 736                                                                         | 437                                                                         | 616                                                                         | 350                                                                         | 494                                                                         |
|                        | Unskilled                                                                   | 523                                                                         | 736                                                                         | 437                                                                         | 616                                                                         | 350                                                                         | 494                                                                         |
| Construction ^         | Semi- skilled/Unski lled Supervisory                                        | 579                                                                         | 816                                                                         | 494                                                                         | 695                                                                         | 410                                                                         | 577                                                                         |
| Construction ^         | Skilled/Cleri cal                                                           | 637                                                                         | 897                                                                         | 579                                                                         | 816                                                                         | 494                                                                         | 695                                                                         |
| Construction ^         | Highly- skilled                                                             | 693                                                                         | 973                                                                         | 637                                                                         | 897                                                                         | 579                                                                         | 816                                                                         |
|                        | 19.01.2017                                                                  |                                                                             |                                                                             |                                                                             |                                                                             | 01.04.2023                                                                  |                                                                             |
| Workers                | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * | 1.Excavation &removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters lift: * |
| engaged in Stone Mines | (a) Soft Soil                                                               | 351 498                                                                     | 351 498                                                                     | 351 498                                                                     | 351 498                                                                     | 351 498                                                                     | 351 498                                                                     |
| for Stone              | (b) Soft Soil with Rock                                                     | 531 748                                                                     | 531 748                                                                     | 531 748                                                                     | 531 748                                                                     | 531 748                                                                     | 531 748                                                                     |
| Breaking and Stone     | (c) Rock                                                                    | 703 990                                                                     | 703 990                                                                     | 703 990                                                                     | 703 990                                                                     | 703 990                                                                     | 703 990                                                                     |
| Crushing               | 2. Removal and Staking of rejected stones with 50 metres                    | 283 400                                                                     | 283 400                                                                     | 283 400                                                                     | 283 400                                                                     | 283 400                                                                     | 283 400                                                                     |
|                        | lead/1.5metre s lift*                                                       | breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category **                | breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category **                | breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category **                | breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category **                | breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category **                | breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category **                |
|                        | 3. Stone (a) 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches                                         | 2171 3041                                                                   | 2171 3041                                                                   | 2171 3041                                                                   | 2171 3041                                                                   | 2171 3041                                                                   | 2171 3041                                                                   |

|                   | (b) Above 1.5 Inches to 3.0 Inches   | 1857                                                           | 1857                                                           | 2601                                                           | 2601                                                           |
|-------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|                   | (c) Above 3.0 Inches to 5 Inches     | 1088                                                           | 1088                                                           | 1527                                                           | 1527                                                           |
|                   | (d) Above 5.0 Inches                 | 893                                                            | 893                                                            | 1255                                                           | 1255                                                           |
| Non - Coal Mines$ |                                      | Above Ground {Rates of Wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)} | Above Ground {Rates of Wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)} | Below Ground {Rates of Wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)} | Below Ground {Rates of Wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)} |
| Non - Coal Mines$ |                                      | 19.01.2 017                                                    | 01.04.2023                                                     | 19.01.2017                                                     | 01.04.2023                                                     |
| Non - Coal Mines$ | Unskilled                            | 350                                                            | 494                                                            | 437                                                            | 616                                                            |
| Non - Coal Mines$ | Semi- skilled/Unski lled Supervisory | 437                                                            | 616                                                            | 523                                                            | 736                                                            |
| Non - Coal Mines$ | Skilled/Cleri cal                    | 523                                                            | 736                                                            | 610                                                            | 858                                                            |
| Non - Coal Mines$ | Highly- skilled                      | 610                                                            | 858                                                            | 683                                                            | 959                                                            |

+ 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.

## Classification of Area

| AREA - 'A'        | AREA - 'A'   | AREA - 'A'           | AREA - 'A'   | AREA - 'A'        | AREA - 'A'   |
|-------------------|--------------|----------------------|--------------|-------------------|--------------|
| Ahmedabad         | (UA)         | Hyderabad            | (UA)         | Faridabad complex |              |
| Bangaluru         | (UA)         | Kanpur               | (UA)         | Ghaziabad         |              |
| Kolkata           | (UA)         | Lucknow              | (UA)         | Gurgaon           |              |
| Delhi             | (UA)         | Chennai              | (UA)         | Noida             |              |
| Greater Mumbai    | (UA)         | Nagpur               | (UA)         | Secunderabad      |              |
| Navi Mumbai       |              | Pune                 | (UA)         |                   |              |
| AREA - 'B'        | AREA - 'B'   | AREA - 'B'           | AREA - 'B'   | AREA - 'B'        | AREA - 'B'   |
| Agra              | (UA)         | Gwalior              | (UA)         | Port Blair        | (UA)         |
| Ajmer             | (UA)         | Hubli-Dharwad        | (M. Corpn)   | Puducherry        | (UA)         |
| Aligarh           | (UA)         | Indore               | (UA)         | Raipur            | (UA)         |
| Allahabad         | (UA)         | Jabalpur             | (UA)         | Raurkela          | (UA)         |
| Amravati          | (M.Corpn)    | Jaipur               | (M.Corpn)    | Rajkot            | (UA)         |
| Amritsar          | (UA)         | Jalandhar            | (UA)         | Ranchi            | (UA)         |
| Asansol           | (UA)         | Jalandhar-Cantt.     | (UA)         | Saharanpur        | (M.Corpn)    |
| Aurangabad        | (UA)         | Jammu                | (UA)         | Salem             | (UA)         |
| Bareilly          | (UA)         | Jamnagar             | (UA)         | Sangli            | (UA)         |
| Belgaum           | (UA)         | Jamshedpur           | (UA)         | Shillong          |              |
| Bhavnagar         | (UA)         | Jhansi               | (UA)         | Siliguri          | (UA)         |
| Bhiwandi          | (UA)         | Jodhpur              | (UA)         | Solapur           | (M.Corpn)    |
| Bhopal            | (UA)         | Kannur               | (UA)         | Srinagar          | (UA)         |
| Bhubaneshwar      | (UA)         | Kochi                | (UA)         | Surat             | (UA)         |
| Bikaner           | (M.Corpn)    | Kolhapur             | (UA)         | Thiruvanantapuram | (UA)         |
| Bokaro Steel City | (UA)         | Kollam               | (UA)         | Thrissur          | (UA)         |
| Chandigarh        | (UA)         | Kota                 | (M.Corpn)    | Tiruchirappalli   | (UA)         |
| Coimbatore        | (UA)         | Kozhikode            | (UA)         | Tiruppur          | (UA)         |
| Cuttack           | (UA)         | Ludhiana             | (M.Corpn)    | Ujjain            | (M.Corpn)    |
| Dehradun          | (UA)         | Madurai              | (UA)         | Vadodara          | (UA)         |
| Dhanbad           | (UA)         | Malappuram           | (UA)         | Varanasi          | (UA)         |
| Durgapur          | (UA)         | Malegaon             | (UA)         | Vasai- Virar City | (M.Corpn)    |
| Durg-Bhilai Nagar | (UA)         | Mangalore            | (UA)         | Vijayawada        | (UA)         |
| Erode             | (UA)         | Meerut               | (UA)         | Vishakhapatnam    | (M.Corpn)    |
| Firozabad         |              | Moradabad            | (M. Corpn)   | Warangal          | (UA)         |
| Goa               |              | Mysore               | (UA)         | Gorakhpur         | (UA)         |
| NandedWaghala     | (M. Corpn)   | GreaterVisakhapatnam | (M.Corpn)    | Nasik             | (UA)         |
| Gulbarga          | (UA)         | Nellore              | (UA)         | Guntur            | (UA)         |
| Panchkula         | (UA)         | Guwahati             | (UA)         | Patna             | (UA)         |

Area 'C' will comprise all areas not mentioned in this list.

NB : U.A. stands for Urban Agglomeration.

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