Kolkata: The state govt has announced a revised minimum wage structure for workers employed across 31 scheduled industries and services sector, effective from July 1. The new structure classifies Bengal into two wage zones — Zone A and Zone B. The minimum wage increase will be Rs 172 per month in Zone A and will vary across skill categories. In Zone B, wages remain unchanged.According to a state govt notification, Zone A comprises municipal areas, notified areas, regions under development authorities and townships adjoining thermal power plants. The rest of the state falls under Zone B.Under the revised rates, unskilled workers in Zone A will receive a minimum monthly wage of Rs 10,558, equivalent to Rs 406 per day. The wage will be increased by Rs 172 per month. In Zone B, the minimum monthly wage for unskilled workers wasunchanged at Rs 9,760, or Rs 375 per day.For semi-skilled workers, the monthly minimum wage has been set at Rs 11,615 in Zone A, which is an increase of Rs 189, and Rs 10,733 in Zone B.Skilled workers will receive a minimum monthly wage of Rs 12,777 in Zone A and Rs 11,807 in Zone B, while highly skilled workers will be entitled to Rs 14,054 in Zone A and Rs 12,990 in Zone B. For skilled and highly skilled workers in Zone A, wages have been increased by Rs 208 and Rs 229, respectively.Labour dept officials said the revised wage structure will cover workers employed in automobile garages, biscuit manufacturing, bottling units, clinical laboratories, courier services, hotels and restaurants, information technology, private security services, beauty parlours, among others.
