Odisha govt hikes variable DA, check new wage rates

In a good news, the Odisha government has enhanced the variable dearness allowance (VDA) for all categories of employees by Rs 7 per day. The new wage rates will be effective from October 1, 2022. 

In a notification, Labour Commissioner of Odisha N Thirumala Naik said, “…the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) @ Rs 7 per day (after rounding off) shall be payable to the unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled categories of employees in all 89 scheduled employments w.e.f. October 1, 2022 in addition to the minimum rate of wages.”

As per the notification, the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board have advised to adopt a system of revision of the special allowance called Variable Dearness Allowances @ Rs 0.90 per point rise in the Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (Base 2001-100) as admissible and shall be declared at half yearly interval i.e. on 2nd April and 1st October from the date of notification of revised wages, starting from 1st April 2019. 

“The Variable Dearness Allowance for the half year commencing w.e.f. 1st October, 2022 is required to be effected on the basis of the increase in average Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial workers reaching 365.76 from 357.65 as on 30.06.2022 and thereby resulting in an increase of 8.11 points,” the notification added.  

With the hike in the VDA, the minimum wage for unskilled workers will be Rs 333 per day while it will be Rs 373 for semi-skilled workers, Rs 423 for skilled workers and Rs 483 for highly skilled workers.