India has a population of 1.3 billion people,[1] with 65% of inhabitants living in rural areas.[2] The agricultural sector employs 42%[3] of India’s workforce and accounts for 16%[4] of the nation’s GDP.
Nearly 70% of India’s rural households depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and most farmers in India, 82%, are smallholders. In addition, the demographics of agriculture in India have been changing as rural to urban migration of men has increased the number of women in agriculture. For many women agricultural work is done in tandem with domestic duties, creating additional burdens.[5]
The top produced crops in India are sugar cane, rice, milled rice, wheat and fresh buffalo milk.[6] India’s top exported products in terms of quantity are rice, milled rice, refined sugar, soybeans cake and dry onions[7]
- ^ World Bank. (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=IN
- ^ World Bank. (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=IN
- ^ World Bank. (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=IN
- ^ World Bank. (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=IN
- ^ FAO. (2017). http://www.fao.org/india/fao-in-india/india-at-a-glance/en/
- ^ FAOSTAT (2020). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT (2020). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum wage
Minimum wage in India varies by region and employment type, with a separate minimum wage established for agricultural workers.[1] State mandated minimum wages do not apply to the informal sector where violations of wages are most common. Similarly, minimum wages are not effectively enforced in the agricultural sector. In addition, although compulsory overtime is not permitted by law, there is no limit to the number of hours a worker can work, resulting in excessive working hours.[2]
Living wage
The Global Living Wage Coalition has developed 6 regional living wage benchmarks for India, 5 of which are focussed in rural areas.
The living wage estimate for the rural Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu State is 14,001 Indian rupees (159 EUR) per month based on a family of 4 with 1.73 full-time workers.[3] In Nilgiris District tea production and large tea estates are very significant and so this living wage estimate is focussed on workers in the tea sector.[4]
The living wage estimate for Tiruppur City in urban Tamil Nadu, India, is 18,529 Indian rupees (210 EUR) per month and is based on a family of 4 with 1.58 full-time workers.[5] The living wage estimate focuses on workers employed in the garment and textile sector.[6]
The living wage estimate for the rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh is 13,735 Indian rupees (156 EUR) per month and is based on a family of 5 with 1.55 full-time workers.[7] In the rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh there is a concentration of carpet weavers and so the living wage estimate focusses on workers employed in the carpet weaving industry.[8]
Two living wage estimates were also done for rural areas of Madhya Pradesh. For the Ratlam District, the estimate living wage is 13,730 Indian rupees (156 EUR) per month and is based on a family of 4.5 with 1.67 full-time workers. 5 with 1.55 full-time workers.[9] In the Chhindwara District, the living wage estimate is 12,919 Indian rupeers (146 EUR) per month, also based on a family of 4.5 with 1.67 full-time workers. 5 with 1.55 full-time workers.[10]
Lastly, living wage estimates were also done for Rural Andhra Pradesh. For the Ratlam District, the estimate living wage is 16,077 Indian rupees (182 EUR) per month and is based on a family of 4.5 with 1.67 full-time workers.[11] The living wage estimate focused on workers employed in the tobacco sector, as India is the second largest grower country in the world after China, followed by Brazil and the United States of America.
- ^ Wage Indicator Foundation (2023). Minimum Wage-India. https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/india
- ^ U.S. Department of State. (2019). https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/india/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022). Living Wage Update: July 2020-Rural India, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. https://www.globallivingwage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Update-Report_Nilgiris-India_2020.pdf
- ^ Living Wage Report: Rural Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. Prepared for: The Global Living Wage Coalition 2022.https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/rural-nilgiris-tamil-nadu-india/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022). https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/urban-india/
- ^ Barge, S., et al. (2016) Living Wage Report: Tiruppur City, Tamil Nadu, India. Prepared for: The Global Living Wage Coalition. https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/urban-india/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022). https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/rural-india/
- ^ Mamkoottam K. & Kaicker N. (2016). Living Wage Report: Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Prepared for: The Global Living Wage Coalition. https://www.globallivingwage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Rural_India_Living_Wage_Report.pdf
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022). https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/rural-madhya-pradesh-india-ratlam-district/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022). https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/rural-madhya-pradesh-india-chhindwara-district/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022) https://www.globallivingwage.org/living-wage-benchmarks/living-wage-for-rural-andhra-pradesh-india/
Assessing coffee farmer income 
Assessment of coffee farmer household income to better understand strategy and policy and to inform Fair Trade minimum prices. Fairtrade International & True Price, 2017.
Wage Issues in the Tea Industry
Project aiming at increasing understanding of wages and living wage gaps in the tea sector, building partnerships and identifying obstacles to raising wages.
Small Tea Growers Sustainability Platform
Multi-stakeholder platform set up to improve livelihoods of tea smallholders in India. The Platform aims to close the living income gap by 20 percent.
Living wage Benchmark, Rural Tamil Nadu
Living wage estimate for rural areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in the Bhadohi district, with a focus on the carpet weaving industry. Global Living Wage Coalition, 2019.
Living Wage Benchmark, Rural Uttar Pradesh
Living wage estimate for rural areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in the Bhadohi district, with a focus on the carpet weaving industry. Global Living Wage Coalition, 2019.
Living Wage Benchmark, Urban Tamil Nadu
Living wage estimate for Tiruppur city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with a focus on the garment and textile sectors. Global Living Wage Coalition, 2019.