Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Tuesday issued notification announcing revision of the wages of different categories of labourers in the state in accordance of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and as per the recommendations of the advisory board.
The Department of Labour and Employee State Insurance (ESI) October 30 while issuing the notification sais that the wage revisions would be throughout the state and the revisions were as per the recommendation of the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board and after considering the objections and suggestions received during two months time.
As per the notification, the labour department has notified revision of minimum wages of unskilled labourers from Rs 200 per day to Rs 280 per day (40 per cent hike). Similarly the wages of semi skilled workers have been revised from Rs 220 to Rs 320 per day (45% hike). On the other side the skilled wages have been revised from Rs 240 per day to Rs 370 per day (54% hike). However the highest hike was registered for highly skilled wages which has gone up from the existing Rs 260 per day to Rs 430 per day (65% hike).
The department said that the revision has been made after three years. In the notification order it said, “The rate if inflation, increase in the Consumer Price Index, prevailing rates in market and prevailing minimum wages in neighbouring states have been taken into account by the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board and the government.”
The department also said that it is likely to help in reducing the distress. A media release from the department on the issue, “These revised minimum wages rates are comparable and at par with minimum wages prescribed in neigbouring states. This is expected to check distress migration in respect of such workers migrating in the hope of getting higher wages in other states.”
The department also said that the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) will be revised every six months. It also said that the workers of minor ports would also be included into the revision as they are now included under the scheduled employments.
PNN