Shamini 
(C): Twitter
In a significant effort to improve rural livelihoods, the Uttar Pradesh government has raised the minimum daily wage for agricultural workers to ₹252, that is ₹6,552 a month. The wage increase is expected to affect lakhs of labourers engaged in traditional agriculture and allied activities such as animal husbandry, beekeeping, mushroom farming and poultry.
This historic ruling is part of a wider change in the state’s labour policy, promoting fairness and security for rural employees. It represents the dignity of labour and promotes the state’s commitment to inclusive development through the lens of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
Which Workers Are Covered?
The new wage now applies to all agriculture industries includes:
- Crop or Field crop production
- Crop transportation
- Support Services provided to all industries
Employees that are involved in dairy farming, beekeeping and mushroom farming will be included in this wage, as now it is officially legislated. Seasonal workers and part time workers must be paid a minimum of 1/6 of the daily wage for each hour worked.
Payment can be in many forms. It can be cash, in kind like commodities farm produce, or electronic regardless, the total must not be below ₹252 per day. This government scheme aims to promote transparency and digital payments in rural areas.
Long Term Impact and Government’s Vision
As per Principal Secretary MK Shanmuga Sundaram, if a worker is already above ₹252/day, their current wage will be counted as their minimum wage. So, workers will see a minimum wage hike on the existing wage rate which means all workers will benefit from the hike and no worker will lose any wages.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath noted that the new policy helps strengthen worker protections and he also noted previous efforts that have focused on workers’ rights, such as registering crores of informal workers on the e-Shram Portal and linking them to schemes that will support their welfare.
This move advances a policy agenda not only advancing wage fairness but also establishing UP as a forward looking agricultural state concerned with welfare.
