Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on Wednesday an increase in the minimum wage for various categories of workers in the national capital. The new wage structure sets the minimum monthly salary for unskilled workers at Rs 18,066, while semi-skilled workers will earn Rs 19,929, and skilled workers will receive Rs 21,917.
Atishi attributed this development to the AAP government, highlighting that under former CM Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, Delhi now boasts the “highest” minimum wages in India. She criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), labelling them as “anti-poor” and asserting that minimum wages in BJP-ruled states are “possibly half” of those in Delhi.
Despite challenges from the BJP, Atishi emphasised that the Kejriwal administration has successfully implemented wage revisions biannually.
This announcement follows Atishi’s first meeting with ministers and department heads, where she assured them of the government’s full support. Key ministers, including Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Kailash Gahlot, along with leaders from 26 departments, attended the meeting.
Acknowledging the historically strained relationship between the Delhi government and its bureaucracy, Atishi stressed the importance of collaboration. “Let us work together for the benefit of the people of Delhi. The work of officials significantly impacts the lives of the public, and as a government, we are committed to supporting them,” she stated.
She further asserted, “The Delhi government and its officials are fully accountable to the people. We depend on the taxes paid by Delhi’s citizens, so it is our duty to deliver the best possible services and uphold our responsibilities with complete integrity.”