Companies should pay fairly, every working youth in UP will get minimum wages: Yogi Adityanath

Inaugurating the three-day “Rozgar Mahakumbh 2025” in Lucknow, the Chief Minister highlighted that Uttar Pradesh is becoming the first state in the country to implement a minimum wage and salary guarantee for every working youth.

Calling the youth a “reservoir of immense energy”, Adityanath said having the largest young population in the country is UP’s greatest strength and fortune. “Today, UP’s talent is in high demand both across India and globally, and the state, which once suffered the pain of mass migration for jobs, is now creating employment within its borders,” he added.

He claimed that entire villages once migrated for work, but today, the same state is offering opportunities within the state itself — a transformation made possible by the well-planned efforts in the past eight years.

Highlighting the “success” of the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, the CM said, “The scheme has given traditional industries a new global identity.”

Nearly 96 lakh MSME units are operational in the state and when more than 40 lakh migrant workers returned home during the Covid-19 pandemic 90% were absorbed into these units, he added.

The Chief Minister also underlined that the state government has extended an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to registered MSME entrepreneurs. With each unit employing anywhere between 2 to 10 youths, lakhs of people are securing dignified livelihoods across Uttar Pradesh, he said, adding that these initiatives are turning Prime Minister narendra Modi’s dream of ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ into a reality.

The “Vishwakarma Shram Samman” and “PM Vishwakarma” schemes have been launched to honour and empower traditional artisans and craftsmen, he further said.

Skilled workers such as carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, cobblers, and barbers are being provided free toolkits, affordable loans, and specialised training and that these initiatives have enabled lakhs of people to secure both employment and dignity, the CM claimed.

Under the ‘CM Yuva Udyami Scheme’, which was launched on January 24, interest-free loans without collateral are being provided to youth aged between 21 and 40, he said. So far, more than 70,000 youth have successfully established their own enterprises through this scheme, he said.

The Chief Minister claimed that in the last eight years, over 8.5 lakh youth have been provided government jobs with complete transparency. He added, “A significant number of appointments were made in the police, education, health, agriculture and public works departments, and universities. Uttar Pradesh today is recognised as a leading state in the country for providing the highest number of government jobs in such a short period.”

“In the last eight years, more than 33 sectoral policies have been introduced, while a transparent system has been created through the Invest UP portal, Nivesh Mitra, and Single Window Platform. As a result, the state has witnessed investments exceeding Rs 15 lakh crore, generating employment for 60 lakh youth,” he said.

He added that through the Uttar Pradesh Startup Mission and Skill Development Mission, youth are being trained in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Drone Technology, Robotics, and the Internet of Things. With the support of Tata Technologies, new labs and courses have been launched in ITIs and polytechnics. The government is also focusing on language training for youth going abroad—German for those heading to Germany, Japanese for those going to Japan, and similar training for other countries—ensuring they face no barriers in skill application or communication overseas. He remarked that technology constantly evolves, and it is essential to update skills in line with the changing needs of society.

The Chief Minister said that labour laws are being modernized to protect workers’ rights while ensuring industries operate smoothly. He assured that no outsourcing company will be allowed to exploit workers. Every worker will receive their full salary, while the government itself will bear any additional costs.

Calling the Rozgar Mahakumbh a bridge between youth and industry, the CM said, “The event is not just about providing jobs but also about aligning training and courses with new technological demands.”