THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A new consumer price index will be prepared as part of the revision of wages of workers in more than 100 sectors covered under the Minimum Wages Act. The cabinet meeting approved to conduct a family budget survey for this.

The consumer price index will be based on expenses such as food, clothing, health, education, travel and housing. The survey is being conducted after accepting the recommendation submitted by the Department of Economics and Statistics making 2023-24 the base year. This will last for a year and a half.

The Department of Economics and Statistics will prepare the questions required for the survey. The survey is conducted to revise the minimum wage every 10 years based on the consumer price index. The last time the survey was conducted was in 2011-12. The survey was delayed this time due to Covid. The minimum wages in 85 sectors were revised in 2011-12.

Committee for Coordination

• A state-level Consumer Price Index Revision Committee will be set up to coordinate the survey.
• This will include departments of labour, food and civil supplies, health, education, economics and statistics.
• For the survey, the posts of Deputy Director-1, Research Assistant-1 and LD Compiler/LD Typist-2 will be created for 18 months. The appointment will be made through redeployment
• 22 field workers will also be appointed for one-and-a-half years at a salary of Rs 600 per day.