Govt hikes minimum wages as living costs surge

India is set to marginally increase minimum wages for informal sector workers, including those in construction, mining, and agriculture, starting October 1. This move aims to help workers manage the rising cost of living. The new daily minimum wage will be Rs 783 for unskilled workers, Rs 868 for semi-skilled workers, and Rs 1,035 for highly skilled workers. The wages are revised twice a year according to inflation, based on the six-month average rise in the Consumer Price Index for industrial workers. This adjustment follows recent protests by workers across the country seeking higher wages and the repeal of labor codes favoring multinational corporations.