Minimum wages in Delhi to go up slightly

Delhi will witness a slight increase in the minimum wages for workers for the first time after the Covid-19 pandemic, with the government approving an increase in

Delhi will witness a slight increase in the minimum wages for workers for the first time after the Covid-19 pandemic, with the government approving an increase in the dearness allowance . The increased minimum wages would apply retrospectively from October 1, said deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday.

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After the latest increase in the dearness allowance, minimum wages in Delhi will be Rs 15,492 per month for unskilled workers, Rs 17,096 for semi-skilled workers and Rs 18,797 for skilled workers, said a statement issued the office of Sisodia, who also holds the labour portfolio.

Currently applicable minimum wages in Delhi are Rs 14,842 per month for unskilled workers, Rs 16,341 for semi-skilled-workers and Rs 17,991 for skilled workers.

Technically, minimum wages were last revised in Delhi in March 2017, which was notified in October 2019 – after the Supreme Court’s nod – after a long legal tussle involving industry groups, labour unions and the city government.

Other than such revisions, minimum wages are supposed to witness a variable increase biannually with the concerned state government doing a fresh assessment of the dearness allowance element in the wages after giving due consideration to factors such as average all-India consumer price index numbers.

This year, dearness allowance points – which are factored in during the bi-annual assessment process – were frozen by the Central government for the period between January 1 and June 30, in the light of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus affecting the bi-annual assessment process.

“Dearness allowance for workers – especially those who are at the bottom of the social strata -- cannot remain frozen, especially at times of crisis caused by a pandemic. Accordingly, the new minimum wages, after including Dearness Allowance, will be applicable to unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories in all scheduled employments. These revised wages will be applicable from October 1, 2020,” said Sisodia.