Gujarat hikes minimum wages by 25%

The Gujarat government on Monday announced in the state Assembly that minimum wages given to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labourers have been increased by nearly 25 per cent – up to more than Rs 2,400 per month – a hike coming after a gap of nine years.
The announcement about the increase in minimum wages, which will become effective after a notification is issued within a fortnight, was made in the Assembly by Gujarat Labour and Employment Minister Balwantsinh Rajput, who said the current payment structure for labourers came into force in the state in 2014.
He said the hike will benefit nearly 2 crore people.
For skilled labourers working in the jurisdiction of municipal corporations, municipalities and urban development authorities in 46 different types of businesses listed in the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the government has hiked the minimum monthly wage from Rs 9,887.80 to Rs 12,324, a rise of Rs 2,436.20, or 24.63 per cent, he said.
For semi-skilled labourers, the state has hiked the minimum monthly wage from Rs 9,653.80 to Rs 11,986, up Rs 2,332.20, or 24.15 per cent. For unskilled workers, the monthly wage has been raised from Rs 9,445.80 to Rs 11,752, indicating a rise of 24.41 per cent, said Rajput.
For skilled labourers working outside the jurisdiction of municipal corporations, municipalities and urban development authorities, the state government has increased the minimum monthly wage from Rs 9,653.80 to Rs 12,012, up Rs 2,358.20, or 24.42 per cent, said the minister.