Executive Summary:
This document addresses questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding migration from Rajasthan's scheduled areas, unemployment rates, and labor wages. It references data collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and outlines government initiatives to generate employment. The document details minimum wage provisions under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and its updated version in the Code on Wages, 2019, including revised rates effective from April 1, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Unemployment and Migration:
* Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above has decreased from 4.8% in 2019-20 to 3.2% in 2023-24, as per PLFS reports.
* Migration Control: The Central Government, with State Governments, is implementing developmental schemes to create employment opportunities and improve infrastructure.
* Employment Generation: Various Ministries/Departments are running employment generation schemes such as PMEGP, MGNREGS, DDUGKY, DAY-NULM, PMMY, and the National Handicrafts Development Programme.
* Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme: The Union Cabinet has approved the ELI Scheme to support employment generation.
* National Career Service (NCS) Portal: The Ministry of Labour and Employment runs the NCS Portal (www.ncs.gov.in) for career-related services.
Minimum Wages and Labor Rates:
* Minimum Wages Act, 1948: The Central and State Governments fix, review, and revise minimum wages for scheduled employments.
* Variable Dearness Allowance (V.D.A.): The Central Government revises V.D.A. on basic minimum wages every six months, effective April 1 and October 1, based on the Consumer Price Index.
* Revised Minimum Wages: Minimum wages, including V.D.A., for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled workers in the central sphere are revised and applicable from April 1, 2025.
* Code on Wages, 2019: The Code on Wages, 2019, makes minimum wages universally applicable across all employments.
* Area-wise Wage Rates: Annexure I provides area-wise rates of minimum wages for scheduled employments in the Central Sphere as of April 1, 2025.
* Area Classification: Annexure II provides the classification of areas (Area A, Area B, and Area C) for wage rate applicability.
Impact Analysis
Central Government:
* Impact: Required to coordinate with State Governments to implement employment schemes and ensure fair wage practices.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring employment generation schemes, revise V.D.A. periodically, and enforce the Code on Wages, 2019.
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing employment schemes and fixing minimum wages within their jurisdictions.
* Action Required: Collaborate with the Central Government on employment schemes, review and revise minimum wages, and enforce labor laws.
Employers:
* Impact: Need to comply with the revised minimum wage rates and labor regulations.
* Action Required: Ensure wages meet or exceed the revised minimum wage rates, adhere to the Code on Wages, 2019, and provide fair employment conditions.
Employees/Workers:
* Impact: Entitled to the revised minimum wage rates and improved employment opportunities.
* Action Required: Be aware of their rights regarding minimum wages, utilize the NCS portal for job opportunities and skill development, and participate in available employment schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Areas of Rajasthan: Refers to the areas in Rajasthan designated as 'Scheduled Areas', which receive special attention and protection under the Constitution of India. The policy discusses migration of people from these areas.
Gujarat: A state in India. The policy mentions migration of people from Scheduled Areas of Rajasthan to Gujarat for employment.
Periodic Labour Force Survey PLFS: A survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to collect data on employment and unemployment in India.
Ministry of Micro, Small Medium Enterprises: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme MGNREGS: An Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'. It aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Minimum Wages Act 1948: An Act of the Parliament of India that sets the minimum wages that must be paid to skilled and unskilled labourers. The Act was subsumed under the Code on Wages, 2019.
Code on Wages, 2019: A law enacted by the Parliament of India to consolidate and amend the laws relating to wages and bonus payments, repealing and replacing the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
National Career Service NCS Portal: A portal run by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, that provides career-related services, including job postings and skill development courses.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1306
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28th JULY, 2025
MIGRATION OF PEOPLE FROM SCHEDULED AREAS OF RAJASTHAN
1306. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the unemployment rate in the 5th Scheduled Area
States of the country during the last five years, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government has made any efforts to control the
migration of the people from the scheduled areas of Rajasthan
those migrated to Gujarat for employment;
(c) whether the Central Government is likely to implement any special
scheme to eradicate unemployment in this area and if so, the
details thereof;
(d) the provision of fixing labour wages rates and the current rates of
skilled and semi-skilled workers in the country, State-wise; and
(e) whether the Government is considering to increase the current
labour rates, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (e): The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected
through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since
2017-18.
As per the latest available Annual PLFS reports, the estimated
Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years
and above has decreased from 4.8% in 2019-20 to 3.2% in 2023-24. The
detailed State/UT-wise information, including the 5th Scheduled Area
States of the country, is available in the PLFS reports which may be
seen at the website of MoSPI at https://www.mospi.gov.in/download-
reports?main_cat=ODU5&cat=All&sub_category=All
Migration of workers from one state to another state is a
continuous process and dynamic in nature.The Central Government in coordination with State Governments is
implementing various developmental schemes for creating employment
opportunities and improving infrastructure to encourage people to stay
in their state, earn their livelihood and raise their quality of life near
their places of residence.
Employment generation coupled with improving employability of all
including youth, in both urban and rural areas, is a priority of
Government and is a multi-stakeholder initiative The various Ministries/
Departments of Government of India like Ministry of Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Housing
& Urban Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology etc. are implementing different
employment generation schemes/ programmes like Prime Minister’s
Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal
Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self
Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs), Deendayal Antyodaya
Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Pradhan Mantri
Mudra Yojana (PMMY), National Handicrafts Development Programme
etc., which, along with increase in capital expenditure, seeks to boost
employment creation. The details of various employment generation
schemes/programmes being implemented by the Government of India
may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes_programmes.
In addition, the Union Cabinet has approved the Employment
Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation,
enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with
special focus on the manufacturing sector.
Further, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India,
is running the National Career Service (NCS) Portal which is a one-stop
solution for providing career related services including jobs from private
and government sectors, information on online & offline job fairs, job
search & matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information
on skill development courses, skill/training programmes etc. through a
digital platform [www.ncs.gov.in].Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, the Central
Government and the State Governments, as appropriate Government, fix,
review and revise the minimum wages of the employees employed in the
Scheduled employments under their respective jurisdictions.
Accordingly, the minimum rates of wages in the Scheduled employments
in the Central sphere were revised by the Central Government in 2017.
Further, in order to take care of the rising prices, the Central
Government revises the Variable Dearness Allowance (V.D.A) on basic
rates of minimum wages every six months, effective from 1st April and
1st October of every year on the basis of Consumer Price Index for all
scheduled employments in A, B and C areas (classification of areas is at
Annexure-II). Latest Minimum Wages inclusive of V.D.A. for different
categories of workers based on skill (i.e., Unskilled, Semi-skilled,
Skilled, Highly Skilled) for scheduled employments under the central
sphere as applicable from 01.04.2025 is at Annexure-I.
Recently the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, have
been rationalized and subsumed under the Code on Wages, 2019. The
Code makes minimum wages universally applicable across employments
and thus moves ahead from restrictive applicability of minimum wages
limited to scheduled employments as provided for under the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948.
*****Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred
Question No. 1306 due for reply on 28.07.2025
Area wise Rates of Minimum Wages for Scheduled Employments in the Central
Sphere (as on 01.04.2025)
Sr. Scheduled Category of Workers Rates of Wages including V.D.A per day (in Rs.)
No. Employment Area A Area B Area C
Agriculture Unskilled 514 470 465
Semi- 562 516 475
skilled/Unskilled
Supervisory
Skilled/Clerical 610 562 515
Highly-skilled 675 628 562
Sweeping and Unskilled 805 674 541
Cleaning +
Watch and Ward Without Arms 981 893 760
(Upgraded to skilled
with training)
With Arms (Upgraded 1065 981 893
to highly skilled for
supervision)
Loading & Unskilled 805 674 541
Unloading #
Unskilled 805 674 541
Construction ^ Semi- 893 760 632
skilled/Unskilled
Supervisory
Skilled/Clerical 981 893 760
Highly-skilled 1065 981 893
Workers 1.Excavation & removal of over burden with 50 meters lead/1.5 meters
engaged in lift:*
Stone Mines for (a) Soft Soil 545
Stone Breaking (b) Soft Soil with Rock 818
and Stone (c) Rock 1083
Crushing 2. Removal and Staking of rejected 438
stones with 50 metres
lead/1.5metres lift*
3. Stone breaking or Stone Crushing for the stone size of category**
(a) 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches 3323
(b) Above 1.5 Inches to 3.0 Inches 2842
(c) Above 3.0 Inches to 5 Inches 1669
(d) Above 5.0 Inches 1372
Non-coal Mines $ Above Ground Below
{Rates of Wages Ground
including V.D.A {Rates of
per day (in Rs.)} Wages
including
V.D.A per
day (in Rs.)}
Unskilled 541 674
Semi-skilled/Unskilled Supervisory 674 805
Skilled/Clerical 805 938
Highly-skilled 938 1048*Per 2.831 cubic meters or 100 cubic feet
** Per truck load of 5.662 cubic meters or 200 cubic feet
+ Employees engaged in the employment of Sweeping and Cleaning excluding Activities
prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines
(Prohibition) Act, 1993.
# Employees engaged in the employment of Loading and Unloading in (i) Goods Sheds, Parcel
Offices of Railways; (ii) Other Goods Sheds, Godowns, Warehouses and other similar
employments; (iii) Docks and Ports; and (iv) Passengers Goods and Cargo Carried out at Airports
(Both International and Domestic).
^ Employees engaged in the employment of 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.
$ Employees engaged in the employment of 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 and
Magnetite Mines.
(Contd/-)Classification of Area
AREA – “A”
Ahmedabad (UA) Hyderabad (UA) Faridabad complex
Bangaluru (UA) Kanpur (UA) Ghaziabad
Kolkata (UA) Lucknow (UA) Gurgaon
Delhi (UA) Chennai (UA) Noida
Greater Mumbai (UA) Nagpur (UA) Secunderabad
Navi Mumbai Pune (UA)
AREA – “B”
Agra (UA) Gwalior (UA) Port Blair (UA)
Ajmer (UA) Hubli-Dharwad (M. Corpn) Puducherry (UA)
Aligarh (UA) Indore (UA) Raipur (UA)
Allahabad (UA) Jabalpur (UA) Raurkela (UA)
Amravati (M.Corpn) Jaipur (M.Corpn) Rajkot (UA)
Amritsar (UA) Jalandhar (UA) Ranchi (UA)
Asansol (UA) Jalandhar-Cantt. (UA) Saharanpur (M.Corpn)
Aurangabad (UA) Jammu (UA) Salem (UA)
Bareilly (UA) Jamnagar (UA) Sangli (UA)
Belgaum (UA) Jamshedpur (UA) Shillong
Bhavnagar (UA) Jhansi (UA) Siliguri (UA)
Bhiwandi (UA) Jodhpur (UA) Solapur (M.Corpn)
Bhopal (UA) Kannur (UA) Srinagar (UA)
Bhubaneshwar (UA) Kochi (UA) Surat (UA)
Bikaner (M.Corpn) Kolhapur (UA) Thiruvanantapuram (UA)
Bokaro Steel (UA) Kollam (UA) Thrissur (UA)
City
Chandigarh (UA) Kota (M.Corpn) Tiruchirappalli (UA)
Coimbatore (UA) Kozhikode (UA) Tiruppur (UA)
Cuttack (UA) Ludhiana (M.Corpn) Ujjain (M.Corpn)
Dehradun (UA) Madurai (UA) Vadodara (UA)
Dhanbad (UA) Malappuram (UA) Varanasi (UA)
Durgapur (UA) Malegaon (UA) Vasai- Virar City (M.Corpn)
Durg-Bhilai (UA) Mangalore (UA) Vijayawada (UA)
Nagar
Erode (UA) Meerut (UA) Vishakhapatnam (M.Corpn)
Firozabad Moradabad (M. Corpn) Warangal (UA)
Goa Mysore (UA) Gorakhpur (UA)
NandedWaghala (M. Corpn) GreaterVisakhapatnam (M.Corpn) Nasik (UA)
Gulbarga (UA) Nellore (UA) Guntur (UA)
Panchkula (UA) Guwahati (UA) Patna (UA)
Area ‘C’ will comprise all areas not mentioned in this list.
NB: U.A. stands for Urban Agglomeration.