RBE No.115/2023 Variable Dearness Allowance – Minimum Wages & VDA w.e.f. 01.10.2023
No.2020/E(LL)/AT/MW/2, dated 17.10.2023
Sub: Revision of rate of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for contract workers engaged in various employment/ activities w.e.f. 01.10.2023.
Ref: Ministry of Railways’ Letter of even number dated 10.05.2023 (RBE No.67/2023).
1. Ministry of Labour & Employment has issued each of orders No. (i) 1/8(1)/2023-LS-II, (ii) 1/8(2)/2023-LS-II, (iii) 1/8(3)/2023-LS-II, (iv) 1/8(4)/2023-LS-II, (v) 1/8(5)/2023-LS-II, (vi) 1/8(6)/2023-LS-II, (vii) 1/8(7)/2023-LS-II, all are dated 26.09.2023 revising the rates of variable dearness allowance for contract workers engaged in (i) Agriculture (ii) 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 Mines and Magnetite Mines (iii) Construction or Maintenance of Roads or runways or in Building Operations including Laying 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 (iv) Loading and unloading in (a) Goods sheds, parcel offices of Railways, (b) other goods-sheds, Godowns, warehouses and other similar employments; (c) Docks and Ports; And (d) Passengers goods and Cargo Carried out at Airports (Both International and Domestic) (v) Employment of sweeping and cleaning excluding activities prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 (vi) Watch and Ward (With and without arms) and (vii) Stone Mines is sent herewith for information and strict compliance. The rates are applicable w.e.f. 01.10.2023.
2. Railways, being Principal Employer are required to ensure that the contractors are complying with the provisions of the Contract Labour (R&A) Act, 1970 and Minimum wages Act, 1948 strictly and arranging prescribed minimum wages to the contract labourers.
3. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.
4. The original letters mentioned above may be downloaded from the official website of Ministry of labour & Employment www.clc.gov.in.
Please acknowledge receipt.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
No.1/8(1)/2023-LS-II, dated 26.09.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by Central Government vide Notification No. S.O.186(E) dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment the undersigned hereby revise the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance for the employees employed in agriculture w.e.f. 01.10.2023 on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 385.97 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
| Category of worker | Rates of V.D.A. Area wise per day (in Rupees) | ||
| ‘A’ | ‘B’ | ‘C’ | |
| Unskilled | 147 | 135 | 133 |
| Semi Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisory | 159 | 147 | 136 |
| Skilled/ Clerical | 174 | 159 | 147 |
| Highly Skilled | 191 | 179 | 159 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages including the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 to the employees working in agriculture shall be as under:-
| Category of worker | Rates of wages including V.D.A. Area wise per day (in Rupees) | ||
| ‘A’ | ‘B’ | ‘C’ | |
| Unskilled | 333 + 147 = 480 | 303 + 135 = 438 | 300 + 133 = 433 |
| Semi Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisory | 364 + 159 = 523 | 335 + 147 = 482 | 307 + 136 = 443 |
| Skilled/ Clerical | 395 + 174 = 569 | 364 + 159 = 523 | 334 + 147 = 481 |
| Highly Skilled | 438 + 191 = 629 | 407 + 179 = 586 | 364 + 159 = 523 |
The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory board.
The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part-I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated 19th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure I for ready reference.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
F. No.1/8(2)/2023-LS-II, dated 03.04.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by Central Government vide Notification No. S.O.2413(E) dated 28th July, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment the undersigned hereby revises the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 385.97 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
Rates of Variable Dearness Allowance for employees employed in employments in Gypsum Mines, Barytes Mines, Bauxite Mines, Mangenese 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 Mines and Magnetite Mines.
| Category of worker | Rates of V.D.A. (in Rs.) per day | |
| For work above ground | For work below ground | |
| Unskilled | 154 | 191 |
| Semi-Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisory | 191 | 228 |
| Skilled/ Clerical | 228 | 265 |
| Highly Skilled | 265 | 295 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 will be as under:-
| Category of worker | Rates of wages including V.D.A. (in Rs.) per day | |
| For work above ground | For work below ground | |
| Unskilled | 350 + 154 = 504 | 437 + 191 = 628 |
| Semi-Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisory | 437 + 191 = 628 | 523 + 228 = 751 |
| Skilled/ Clerical | 523 + 228 = 751 | 610 + 265 = 875 |
| Highly Skilled | 610 + 265 = 875 | 683 + 295 = 978 |
The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory board.
The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part-I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated 19th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure I for ready reference.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
F.No.1/8(3)/2023-LS-II, dated 26.09.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by Central Government vide Notification No.S.O.188(E), dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the undersigned hereby revise the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 385.97 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
The rates of Variable Dearness Allowance for employees employed in construction or maintenance of Roads or Runways or in Building Operations including laying 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.
| Category of worker | Rates of V.D.A. per day (in Rupees) | ||
| ‘A’ | ‘B’ | ‘C’ | |
| Unskilled | 228 | 191 | 154 |
| Semi-Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisory | 253 | 215 | 179 |
| Skilled/ Clerical | 278 | 253 | 215 |
| Highly Skilled | 299 | 278 | 253 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 will be as under:-
| Category of worker | Rates of wages including V.D.A. per day (in Rupees) | ||
| ‘A’ Area | ‘B’ Area | ‘C’ Area | |
| Unskilled | 523 + 228 = 751 | 437 + 191 = 628 | 350 + 154 = 504 |
| Semi Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisory | 579 + 253 = 832 | 494 + 215 = 709 | 410 + 179 = 589 |
| Skilled/ Clerical | 637 + 278 = 915 | 579 + 253 = 832 | 494 + 215 = 709 |
| Highly Skilled | 693 + 299 = 992 | 637 + 278 = 915 | 579 + 253 = 832 |
The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory board.
The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part-I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated 19th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure-I for ready reference.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
F.No.1/8/(4)2023 LS-II, dated 26.09.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by the Central Government Vide Notification No.S.O.192(E), dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the undersigned hereby revise the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 385.97 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
Rates of VDA for employees employed in loading and unloading in (i) Goods Sheds, Parcel Offices of Railways, (ii) Other Goods-sheds, Go-downs, Warehouses and other similar employments, (iii) Docks and Ports, and, (iv) Passenger Goods and Cargo Carried out at Airports (both International and Domestic).
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages including the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 to the employees shall be as under:-
| Area | Rates of V.D.A. per day (in Rs.) |
| ‘A’ | 228 |
| ‘B’ | 191 |
| ‘C’ | 154 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 shall be as under:-
| Area | Rates of wages plus V.D.A. per day | ||
| Wages (Rs.) | V.D.A. (Rs.) | Total (Rs.) | |
| ‘A’ | 523 | 228 | 751 |
| ‘B’ | 437 | 191 | 628 |
| ‘C’ | 350 | 154 | 504 |
The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board.
The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part-I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated 19th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure-I for ready reference.
Ministry of Labour& Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
No.1/8(5)/2023-LS-II, dated 26.09.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by the Central Government Vide Notification No.S.O.190(E), dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the undersigned hereby revises the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 385.97 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
Rates of V.D.A. 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 | Rates of V.D.A. per day (in Rs.) |
| A | 228 |
| B | 191 |
| C | 154 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 shall be same as under:-
| AREA | Rates of wages plus V.D.A. per day | ||
| Basic Wages (Rs.) | V.D.A. (Rs.) | Total (Rs.) | |
| A | 523 | 228 | 751 |
| B | 437 | 191 | 628 |
| C | 350 | 154 | 504 |
The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board.
The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part-I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated 19th Jaluary, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure-I for ready reference.
Ministry of Labour& Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
File No.1/8(6)/2023-LS-II, dated 26.09.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by the Central Government Vide Notification No.S.O.191(E), dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the undersigned hereby revise the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 385.97 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
(I) Rates of V.D.A. for employees employed in Watch & Ward (without arms) shall be same as under:-
| Area | Rates of V.D.A. per day (in Rs.) |
| A | 278 |
| B | 253 |
| C | 215 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 to employees employed in Watch and Ward (without arms) shall be as under:-
| AREA | Rates of wages plus V.D.A. per day | ||
| Basic Wage (Rs.) | V.D.A. (Rs.) | Total (Rs.) | |
| A | 637 | 278 | 915 |
| B | 579 | 253 | 832 |
| C | 494 | 215 | 709 |
(II) Rates of V.D.A. for employees employed in Watch and Ward (with arms) shall be same as under:-
| Area | Rates of V.D.A. per day (in Rs.) |
| A | 299 |
| B | 278 |
| C | 253 |
Therefore, the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 to employees employed in Watch and Ward (with arms) shall be as under:-
| AREA | Rates of wages plus V.D.A. per day | ||
| Basic Wage (Rs.) | V.D.A. (Rs.) | Total (Rs.) | |
| A | 693 | 299 | 992 |
| B | 637 | 278 | 915 |
| C | 579 | 253 | 832 |
The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board.
The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part-I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated 19th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure-I for ready reference.
Ministry of Labour& Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (C) New Delhi
File No.1/8(7)/2023-LS-II, dated 26.09.2023
ORDER
In exercise of the powers conferred by the Central Government Vide Notification No.S.O.189(E), dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the undersigned hereby revise the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 378.58 from 378.58 as on 30.06.2023 (Base 2016 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 7.39 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.10.2023:-
Rates of V.D.A. for employees employed in “Stone Mines” shall be as under:-
| Item of work | Rates of Variable Dearness Allowance as on 01.10.2023 | |
| 1 | Excavation & removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/ 1.5 meters lift.* | |
| (i) | Soft Soil | Rs.157 |
| (ii) | Soft Soil with rock | Rs.232 |
| (iii) | Rock | Rs.307 |
| 2 | Removal and stacking of rejected stones with 50 metres lead/ 1.5 Metres lift.* | Rs.125 |
| 3 | Stone breaking or Stone Crushing for the Stone size of:- | |
| 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches | Rs.930 | |
| Above 1.5 inches to 3.0 inches | Rs.795 | |
| Above 3.0 inches to 5.0 inches | Rs.469 | |
| Above 5.0 inches | Rs.387 |
Therefore, the minimum piece rate wages showing the basic and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.10.2023 to the employees employed in Stone Mines shall be as under:-
| Category | Basic Wages | VDA | Total | |
| 1 | Excavation & removal of over burden with 50 meters Lead/ 1.5 Meters lift.* | |||
| (i) | Soft Soil | Rs.351 | Rs.157 | Rs.508 |
| (ii) | Soft Soil with rock | Rs.531 | Rs.232 | Rs.763 |
| (iii) | Rock | Rs.703 | Rs.307 | Rs.1010 |
| 2 | Removal and stacking of rejected stones with 50 meters lead/ 1.5 meters lift.* | Rs.283 | Rs.125 | Rs.408 |
| 3 | Stone Breaking or Stone Crushing for stone size of category** | |||
| Basic Wages | VDA | Total | ||
| (i) | 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches | Rs.2171 | Rs.930 | 3101 |
| (ii) | Above 1.5 inches to 3.0 inches | Rs.1857 | Rs.795 | 2652 |
| (iii) | Above 3.0 inches to 5.0 inches | Rs.1088 | Rs.469 | 1557 |
| (iv) | Above 5.0 | Rs.893 | Rs.387 | 1280 |
The workers employed on minimum guaranteed time rate of wages per day shall be entitled to time rate of minimum wages plus special allowance, if any, for unskilled category of above ground workers revised from time to time by the Central Government in respect of scheduled employment in stone mines.
* Per 2.831 cube meters (100 cubic feet)
** Per truck load of 5.662 cubic meters (200 cubic feet)
ANNEXURE-I
| Classification of Area | |||||
| Area – “A” | |||||
| Ahmedabad | (UA) | Hyderabad | (UA) | Faridabad Complex | (M. Corp.) |
| Bangaluru | (UA) | Kanpur | (UA) | Ghaziabad | (UA) |
| Delhi | (UA) | Chennai | (UA) | NOIDA | |
| Greater Mumbai | (UA) | Nagpur | (UA) | Secunderabad | |
| Kolkata | (UA) | Lucknow | (UA) | Gurgaon | (M. Corp.) |
| Navi Mumbai | (UA) | Pune | (UA) | ||
| Area – “B” | |||||
| Agra | (UA) | Gwalior | (UA) | Port Blair | (UA) |
| Ajmer | (UA) | Hubli-Dharwad | (M. Corp.) | Puducherry | (UA) |
| Aligarh | (UA) | Indore | (UA) | Raipur | (UA) |
| Allahabad | (UA) | Jabalpur | (UA) | Raurkela | (UA) |
| Amravati | (M. Corp.) | Jaipur | (M. Corp.) | Rajkot | (UA) |
| Amritsar | (UA) | Jalandhar | (UA) | Ranchi | (UA) |
| Asansol | (UA) | Jalandhar Cantt. | (UA) | Saharanpur | (M. Corp.) |
| Aurangabad | (UA) | Jammu | (UA) | Salem | (UA) |
| Bareilly | (UA) | Jamnagar | (UA) | Sangli | (UA) |
| Belgaum | (UA) | Jamshedpur | (UA) | Shillong | (UA) |
| Bhavnagar | (UA) | Jhansi | (UA) | Siliguri | (UA) |
| Bhiwandi | (UA) | Jodhpur | (UA) | Solapur | (M. Corp.) |
| Bhopal | (UA) | Kanpur | (UA) | Shrinagar | (UA) |
| Bhubneshwar | (UA) | Kochi | (UA) | Surat | (UA) |
| Bikaner | (M. Corp.) | Kolhapur | (UA) | Thiruvanantpuram | (UA) |
| Bokaro Steel City | (UA) | Kollam | (UA) | Thrissur | (UA) |
| Chandigarh | (UA) | Kota | (M. Corp.) | Tiruchirapalli | (UA) |
| Coimbatore | (UA) | Kozhikode | (UA) | Tiruppur | (UA) |
| Cuttack | (UA) | Ludhiana | (M. Corp.) | Ujjain | (M. Corp.) |
| Dehradun | (UA) | Madurai | (UA) | Vadodara | (UA) |
| Dhanbad | (UA) | Malappuram | (UA) | Varangal | (UA) |
| Durgapur | (UA) | Malegaon | (UA) | Vassi-Virar City | (M. Corp.) |
| Durg-Bhilai Nagar | (UA) | Manglore | (UA) | Vijaywada | (UA) |
| Erode | (UA) | Meerut | (UA) | Vishakhapatnam | (M. Corp.) |
| Firozabad | (UA) | Moradabad | (M. Corp.) | Warangal | (UA) |
| Goa | (UA) | Mysore | (UA) | ||
| Gorakhpur | (UA) | Nanded Waghala | (M. Corp.) | ||
| Greater Vishakhapatnam | (M. Corp.) | Nasik | (UA) | ||
| Gulbarga | (UA) | Nellore | (UA) | ||
| Gunter | (UA) | Panchkulla | (UA) | ||
| Guwahati | (UA) | Patna | (UA) | ||
| Note (1): Area ‘C’ shall comprise all area not mentioned in this list but to which the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (I of 1948) extends. | |||||
| Note (2): – U.A. means ‘Urban Agglomeration” |
Download Railway Board Circular RBE No.115/2023