The Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, issued an order dated September 26, 2023, under the powers conferred by a notification (No. S.O. 186(E) dated 19th January 2017). The order pertains to the revision of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) rates for employees engaged in Agriculture, effective from October 1, 2023.
Updated Variable Dearness Allowance for Agriculture Workers
File No.1/8(1)/2023-LS-II
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner(C)
New Delhi
Dated: 26/9/2023
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 | 136.00 |
| Skilled / Clerical | 147 | 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.
(Remis Tiru)
Chief Labour Commissioner(C)