The Rajasthan government is expected to announce revised minimum wage rates soon, following the approval of a proposal by the labour department by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, according to sources. Daily wages are anticipated to increase by 22% to 45% across various labour categories.
Proposed Wage Increases
Officials stated that minimum wage revisions are traditionally announced on May 1, but this year the notification was delayed due to political reasons. Once implemented, the hike is expected to benefit nearly 25 lakh workers across the state.
According to the proposal, the minimum wage for unskilled labourers may rise from Rs 285 to Rs 350 per day. For semi-skilled workers, wages are proposed to increase from Rs 297 to Rs 400, while skilled labourers may receive Rs 450 instead of Rs 309. Highly skilled workers are likely to see wages rise from Rs 359 to Rs 500 per day. The last revision was carried out in December 2024.
Background and Protests
The move comes after workers in Bhiwadi, Alwar district, staged protests demanding a wage hike, which intensified discussions on revising minimum wages across Rajasthan.
Sources indicated that the government is also considering linking minimum wage revisions to inflation, with a proposed annual increase of 3%, similar to the dearness allowance (DA) provided to government employees.
Political Reactions
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had earlier written to CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, highlighting that minimum wages in Kerala increased by 90% to 110%, while Tamil Nadu and Delhi recorded hikes of 80% to 90%. He stated that Rajasthan lagged behind these states and called for policy reforms.
Gehlot also pointed out that the variable dearness allowance (VDA), despite being linked to the consumer price index (CPI), is revised irregularly and without a fixed timeline, forcing workers to bear the impact of inflation. He further claimed that Rajasthan has the lowest wage rates in the country.
Apart from demanding a hike in minimum wages, Gehlot raised several other concerns in his letter to the chief minister.
