In a milestone development for aviation ground workers, thousands of IndiGo Airlines employees under AGILE services have secured their biggest wage hike in company history. The All India Workers’ Employee Federation struck a landmark agreement with AGILE management, ensuring that ground staff will now receive pay hikes aligned with the Central Government’s pay scale from April 2025.
The move is expected to benefit over 3,000 employees and bring uniformity across roles, regardless of position or tenure. This historic hike, estimated at ₹120 crore annually, was finalised under the leadership of BJP National Executive President and Federation President Ravindra Chavan.
Central Pay Scales, Biannual VDA, and Structured Hikes
One of the standout features of the agreement is the biannual Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), to be paid every April and October based on Central Government rates. Previously, only a few selected workers were eligible under state-linked schemes. The revised structure now guarantees all employees VDA increases between ₹500 and ₹800 per month, translating to annual benefits ranging from ₹21,000 to ₹1,16,000.
Employees will also see structured hikes based on years of service. For instance, 804 workers with five years of tenure will get ₹4,000 more annually, while 1,495 staffers with three years’ service will receive ₹5,300–₹5,500 more. Those with 3–5 years of experience will get increases between ₹2,500 and ₹3,000.
Official Approval and Industry Impact
This agreement, officially approved by the Regional Labour Commissioner, is being hailed as the largest of its kind for the AGILE workforce. Federation General Secretary Suhas Mate emphasized that this structured, transparent wage hike corrects past disparities, unlike last year’s marginal ₹60 lakh hike negotiated by rival unions.
Beyond the numbers, this decision marks a turning point in worker rights within India’s aviation sector — with the potential to enhance employee morale, retention, and overall operational efficiency.
