Reinforcing his government’s focus on labour welfare, CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced an increase in daily wages for all categories of workers on May 7. While the exact rates and categories were issued through the Labour Department, the move is significant because it directly impacts Odisha’s vast unorganised workforce, including agricultural labourers, construction workers, and MGNREGA beneficiaries.
The wage revision in Odisha was driven by a ₹10 per day increase in the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), designed to cushion the rising cost of living. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the new rates would be implemented with retrospective effect from April 1, 2026
| Worker category | Previous Daily Wage (₹) | Increase (₹) | New Daily Wage (₹) |
| Unskilled | 462 | +10 | 472 |
| Semi Skilled | 512 | +10 | 522 |
| Skilled | 562 | +10 | 572 |
| Highly Skilled | 612 | +10 | 622 |