On 01 April 2024, Dr. Onkar Sharma, Chief Labour Commissioner (C) of New Delhi, issued an order announcing the updated minimum wages for the Central region. Effective from this date, the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) have been revised based on the Average Consumer Price Index Number.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has adjusted the Variable Dearness Allowance rates for employees in various sectors including Agriculture, Mines, Construction, Loading & Unloading, Sweeping and Cleaning, Watch and Ward (With and Without Arms), and Stone Mines. This adjustment aligns with the increase in the Average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers, which rose from 385.97 to 399.70 as of 31 December 2023 (Base 2016=100), marking a rise of 13.73 points.
As a result of this adjustment, the updated Variable Dearness Allowance will be applicable from 01 April 2024 to 30 September 2024.
Employees Employed in Agriculture
The adjusted Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees working in Agriculture, based on the increased Consumer Price Index (13.73 points), will be as follows starting from 01 April 2024:
| Class of Employment | Area | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| Unskilled | A | ₹ 333.00 | ₹ 164.00 | ₹ 497.00 |
| Unskilled | B | ₹ 303.00 | ₹ 151.00 | ₹ 454.00 |
| Unskilled | C | ₹ 300.00 | ₹ 149.00 | ₹ 449.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | A | ₹ 364.00 | ₹ 178.00 | ₹ 542.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | B | ₹ 335.00 | ₹ 164.00 | ₹ 499.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | C | ₹ 307.00 | ₹ 152.00 | ₹ 459.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | A | ₹ 395.00 | ₹ 194.00 | ₹ 589.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | B | ₹ 364.00 | ₹ 178.00 | ₹ 542.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | C | ₹ 334.00 | ₹ 164.00 | ₹ 498.00 |
| Highly Skilled | A | ₹ 438.00 | ₹ 214.00 | ₹ 652.00 |
| Highly Skilled | B | ₹ 407.00 | ₹ 200.00 | ₹ 607.00 |
| Highly Skilled | C | ₹ 364.00 | ₹ 178.00 | ₹ 542.00 |
Employees Employed in Mines
The updated Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees in Mines, calculated based on the 13.73 points increase in the Consumer Price Index, will be as follows, effective from 01 April 2024:
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 Mine and Magnetite Mines.
- For Work Above Ground :
| Class of Employment | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| Unskilled | ₹ 350.00 | ₹ 172.00 | ₹ 522.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | ₹ 437.00 | ₹ 214.00 | ₹ 651.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | ₹ 523.00 | ₹ 255.00 | ₹ 778.00 |
| Highly Skilled | ₹ 610.00 | ₹ 296.00 | ₹ 906.00 |
- For Work Below Ground :
| Class of Employment | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| Unskilled | ₹ 437.00 | ₹ 214.00 | ₹ 651.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | ₹ 523.00 | ₹ 255.00 | ₹ 778.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | ₹ 610.00 | ₹ 296.00 | ₹ 906.00 |
| Highly Skilled | ₹ 683.00 | ₹ 330.00 | ₹ 1013.00 |
Employees Employed in Construction
The adjusted Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees working in Construction, calculated based on the 13.73 points increase in the Consumer Price Index, will be as follows, effective from 01 April 2024:
The rates of Variable Dearness Allowance for employees employed in the Construction or Maintenance of Roads or Runways or In Building Operations Including Lying 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.
| Class of Employment | Area | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| Unskilled | A | ₹ 523.00 | ₹ 255.00 | ₹ 778.00 |
| Unskilled | B | ₹ 437.00 | ₹ 214.00 | ₹ 651.00 |
| Unskilled | C | ₹ 350.00 | ₹ 172.00 | ₹ 522.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | A | ₹ 579.00 | ₹ 283.00 | ₹ 862.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | B | ₹ 494.00 | ₹ 240.00 | ₹ 734.00 |
| Semi-Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory | C | ₹ 410.00 | ₹ 200.00 | ₹ 610.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | A | ₹ 637.00 | ₹ 311.00 | ₹ 948.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | B | ₹ 579.00 | ₹ 283.00 | ₹ 862.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | C | ₹ 494.00 | ₹ 240.00 | ₹ 734.00 |
| Highly Skilled | A | ₹ 693.00 | ₹ 335.00 | ₹ 1028.00 |
| Highly Skilled | B | ₹ 637.00 | ₹ 311.00 | ₹ 948.00 |
| Highly Skilled | C | ₹ 579.00 | ₹ 283.00 | ₹ 862.00 |
Employees Employed in Loading & Unloading
The updated Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees engaged in Loading & Unloading, adjusted in accordance with the 13.73 points increase in the Consumer Price Index, will be as follows, starting from 01 April 2024:
Rates of VDA for employees employed in loading and unloading in (i) Goods Shed, Parcel Offices of Railways, (ii) Other Goods Sheds, Godowns, Warehouses and Other Similar Employments, (iii) Docks and Ports, (iv) Passengers Goods and Cargo Carried Out at Airports (Both International and Domestic).
| Area | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| A | ₹ 523.00 | ₹ 255.00 | ₹ 778.00 |
| B | ₹ 437.00 | ₹ 214.00 | ₹ 651.00 |
| C | ₹ 350.00 | ₹ 172.00 | ₹ 522.00 |
Employees Employed in Sweeping and Cleaning
The revised Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees working in Sweeping and Cleaning, calculated based on the 13.73 points increase in the Consumer Price Index, will be as follows, effective from 01 April 2024:
Rates of VDA for employees employed in “Employment of Sweeping and Cleaning excluding activities prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993”.
| Area | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| A | ₹ 523.00 | ₹ 255.00 | ₹ 778.00 |
| B | ₹ 437.00 | ₹ 214.00 | ₹ 651.00 |
| C | ₹ 350.00 | ₹ 172.00 | ₹ 522.00 |
Employees Employed in Watch and Ward
The adjusted Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees employed in Watch and Ward (With and Without Arms), based on the 13.73 points increase in the Consumer Price Index, will be as follows, starting from 01 April 2024:
Watch and Ward (Without Arms)
The rates of VDA for employees engaged in Watch & Ward (without arms) will be applicable from 01 April 2024, as follows:
| Area | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| A | ₹ 637.00 | ₹ 311.00 | ₹ 948.00 |
| B | ₹ 579.00 | ₹ 283.00 | ₹ 862.00 |
| C | ₹ 494.00 | ₹ 240.00 | ₹ 734.00 |
Watch and Ward (With Arms)
The rates of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees working in Watch & Ward (with arms) will be in effect from 01 April 2024, as follows:
| Area | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| A | ₹ 693.00 | ₹ 335.00 | ₹ 1028.00 |
| B | ₹ 637.00 | ₹ 311.00 | ₹ 948.00 |
| C | ₹ 579.00 | ₹ 283.00 | ₹ 862.00 |
Employees Employed in Stone Mines
The updated Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for employees employed in Stone Mines, based on the 13.73 points increase in the Consumer Price Index, will be as follows, starting from 01 April 2024:
- Excavation & Removal of Over Burden with 50 Meters Lead / 1.5 Meters Lift
| Category | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| Soft Soil | ₹ 351.00 | ₹ 175.00 | ₹ 526.00 |
| Soft Soil With Rock | ₹ 531.00 | ₹ 259.00 | ₹ 790.00 |
| Rock | ₹ 703.00 | ₹ 343.00 | ₹ 1046.00 |
- Removal and Stacking of Rejected Stones with 50 Meters Lead / 1.5 Meters Lift
| Category | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| Removal & Stacking | ₹ 283.00 | ₹ 140.00 | ₹ 423.00 |
- Stone Breaking or Stone Crushing for Stone size of category
| Category | Basic Per Day | VDA Per Day | Total Per Day |
| 1.0 Inch to 1.5 Inches | ₹ 2171.00 | ₹ 1041.00 | ₹ 3212.00 |
| Above 1.5 Inches to 3.0 Inches | ₹ 1857.00 | ₹ 890.00 | ₹ 2747.00 |
| Above 3.0 Inches to 5.0 Inches | ₹ 1088.00 | ₹ 525.00 | ₹ 1613.00 |
| Above 5 Inches | ₹ 893.00 | ₹ 433.00 | ₹ 1326.00 |
Official Notification
Central Minimum Wages Notification April 2024 [PDF]
Official Website
You may visit the Official Website for more details.
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