Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The Minimum Wages Act is enacted for the purpose of fixing minimum rates of wages in certain employments.

Purpose

In order to prevent the exploitation of labour amidst the largely prevailing unemployment in India, the Central Government enacted this Act prescribing the minimum rates of wages less than which the employers are prohibited to pay the wages for certain employments.

The Central Government fixes and revises the minimum rate of wages from time to time considering the prevailing conditions and the consumer price index. The States and Union Territories shall follow these minimum wage rates along with their respective geographical conditions, and skillset of workforce.

Applicability

The provisions of this Act is applicable to the list of employments in certain industries provided under its Schedule.

This is a Central Act that is applicable to the whole of India.

The States and the Union Territories shall have their respective Rules framed aligning with this Act.

Minimum Rate of Wages

The Minimum Rate of Wages fixed or revised by the appropriate Government for the scheduled employments may consist of:

  1. a basic rate of wages and a special allowance at a rate to be adjusted, at such intervals and in such manner as the appropriate Government may direct, to accord as nearly as practicable with the variation in the cost of living index number applicable to such workers (hereinafter referred to as the "cost of living allowance"); or
  2. a basic rate of wages with or without the cost of living allowance, and the cash value of the concessions in respect of supplies of essential commodities at concession rates, where so authorized; or
  3. an all-inclusive rate allowing for the basic rate, the cost of living allowance and the cash value of the concessions, if any.

The cost of living allowance and the cash value of the concessions in respect of supplies of essential commodities at concession rates shall be computed by the competent authority at such intervals and in accordance with such directions as may be specified or given by the appropriate Government.

Maintenance of registers and records

Every employer shall:

  1. maintain such registers and records giving such particulars of employees employed by him, the work performed by them, the wages paid to them, the receipts given by them and such other particulars and in such form as may be prescribed.
  2. keep exhibited, in such manner as may be prescribed, in the factory, workshop or place where the employees in the scheduled employment may be employed, or in the case of out- workers, in such factory, workshop or place as may be used for giving out-work to them, notices in the prescribed form containing prescribed particulars.

The appropriate Government may, by rules made under this Act, provide for the issue of wage books or wage slips to employees employed in any scheduled employment in respect of which minimum rates of wages have been fixed and prescribe the manner in which entries shall be made and authenticated in such wage books or wage slips by the employer or his agent.

Form of registers and records

  1. A register of wages shall be maintained by every employer at the work-spot in Form X.
  2. Every employer shall in respect of each person employed in the establishment, complete the entries pertaining to a wage period:- in columns 1 to 15 of Form X, before the date on which the wages for such wage period fall due; and in columns 16 and 17 of the said Form, on the date when payment is made and obtain the signature or thumb impression of the employee in column 18 of the said Form on the date when payment is made.
  3. A wage slip in Form XI shall be issued by every employer to every person employed by him at least a day prior to the disbursement of wages.
  4. Every employer shall get the signature or thumb-impression of every person employed on the register of wages and wage slip.
  5. Entries in the register of wages and wages slips shall be a authenticated by the employer or any person authorized by him in this behalf.
  6. A muster roll shall be maintained by every employer at the work-sport and kept in Form V and the attendance of each person employed in the establishment shall be recorded daily in that form within 3 hours of the commencement of the work shift or relay for the day as the same may be.

Compliances

Preservation of registers

A register required to be maintained under rules 21(4), 25(2) and 26(1) and the muster roll required to be maintained under rule 26(5) shall be preserved for a period of three years after the date of last entry made therein.

References

Central Minimum Wages Notification - October 2021

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The Minimum Wages (Central) Rules, 1950

The Minimum Wages (Central Advisory Board) Rules, 2011

Notification dated 22 Mar 2016 - Re-constitution of MWAB

Notification dated 18 Nov 2016 - on Re-constitution of CAB

Notification dated 19 Jan 2017 - Revision of minimum rates of wages in the Central Sphere - Final

Notification dated 23 Feb 2017 - Revision of minimum rates of wages in the Central Sphere - Corrigendum

Notifications

Corrections to Minimum Wages Notification in Tamil Nadu

06 Sep, 2023
The Government of Tamil Nadu has published the corrections to the minimum wages notification dated 11 August 2023.
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Minimum Wages Notification - Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman, Diu

18 Aug, 2023
The Union Territory of Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu has released the minimum wages notification that takes effect from 01 April 2023 for the scheduled employments.

Himachal Pradesh Minimum Wages revision - April 2023

07 Jul, 2023
The Government of Himachal Pradesh has released the minimum wages effective from 01 April 2023.

Andaman & Nicobar Minimum Wages Notification - July 2023

07 Jul, 2023
The Labour Commissioner Office of Andaman & Nicobar Islands has published the revised rate of minimum wages notification for the period effective from July 2023.

Mizoram Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

16 Jun, 2023
The Government of Mizoram has notified the revised rate of minimum wages effective from 1 April 2023.

Tripura Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

16 Jun, 2023
The Government of Tripura has notified the revised rate of minimum wages that is effective from 01 April 2023.

Tamil Nadu Minimum Wages Notifications - 2023

16 Jun, 2023
The Government of Tamil Nadu has published the revised rate of minimum wages to scheduled employments.

Central Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

03 Apr, 2023
The Government of India has published its revised rate of minimum wages (Central) effective from 01 April 2023.

Uttar Pradesh Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

03 Apr, 2023
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has published its revised rate of minimum wages effective from 01 April 2023.

Uttarakhand Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

27 Mar, 2023
The Government of Uttarakhand has notified the revised rate of minimum wages effective from 01 April 2023.

Bihar Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

01 Mar, 2023
The Government of Bihar has notified the revised rate of minimum wages effective from 01 April 2023.

Tamil Nadu Minimum Wages Notification - April 2023

27 Feb, 2023
The Government of Tamil Nadu has published its revised rate of dearness allowances for all schedules of employment, effective from 1st April 2023.

Andaman and Nicobar Minimum Wages - January 2023

29 Dec, 2022
The Administrator of Andaman and Nicobar Island has notified the minimum rate of wages in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Island with effect from 01 January 2023.

Tripura Revised Rate of Minimum Wages - October 2022

22 Nov, 2022
The Government of Tripura has notified the revised rate of minimum wages for the employments under shops, establishments, private security services effective from 01 October 2022.

Ladakh Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

04 Nov, 2022
The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has revised the minimum rates of wages for scheduled employments, effective from 02 November 2022.

Chandigarh Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

02 Nov, 2022
The Union Territory of Chandigarh has released the Minimum Wages effective from 01 October 2022.

Odisha Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

19 Oct, 2022
The Government of Odisha has published the Minimum Wages revised rate that shall be effective from 01 October 2022.

Jammu & Kashmir Minimum Wages - October 2022

12 Oct, 2022
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has notified the revised minimum wages effective from 17 October 2022.

Chhattisgarh Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

01 Oct, 2022
The Government of Chhattisgarh has released the minimum wages notification revising the VDA effective from 01 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Uttar Pradesh Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

30 Sep, 2022
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has released its minimum wages rates that shall be effective from 01 October 2022.

Bihar Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

30 Sep, 2022
The Government of Bihar has released the minimum wages notification revising the VDA effective from 01 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Gujarat Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

30 Sep, 2022
The Government of Gujarat has released the revised Minimum Wages notification revising the dearness allowance effective from 01 October 2022.

Madhya Pradesh Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

29 Sep, 2022
The Government of Madhya Pradesh has released minimum wages revised rates notification effective from 1st October 2022.

Central Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

29 Sep, 2022
The Government of India has released Minimum Wages Notification revising the rates for various categories including, construction or maintenance of roads or runways or in building operations, effective from 01 October 2022.

Andhra Pradesh Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

27 Sep, 2022
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has released Consumer Price Index for minimum wage calculation with effect from 01 October 2022.

Telangana press note for minimum wages

27 Sep, 2022
The Government of Telangana has released a press note stating the enhanced consumer price index for calculating the variable dearness allowance, effective from 01 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Uttarakhand Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

26 Sep, 2022
The Government of Uttarakhand has released Minimum Wages notification effective from 01 October 2022.

Kerala consumer price index for minimum wages - July 2022

20 Sep, 2022
Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Industrial Workers for the month of July 2022.

Jharkhand Minimum Wages Notification - October 2022

19 Sep, 2022
The Government of Jharkhand has released notification revising the VDA rates, effective from 1st October 2022.

Assam Minimum Wages Notification - August 2022

22 Aug, 2022
The Labour Welfare Department of Assam has issued a notification for revision in minimum rates of wages that is to take effect from 01 August 2022.

Uttarakhand Minimum Wages Notification

08 Aug, 2022
Uttarakhand Government has released the minimum wages revised rate effective from 01 Aug 2022 to 31 January 2023.

Central revised Minimum Wages VDA

29 Jul, 2022
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has released a notification superceding its previous notification dated 31 March 2022 revising the rates of variable dearness allowance (VDA) for employees employed under various industries. The revised VDA shall be payable from 01 April 2022.

Minimum Wages Notification - Andaman & Nicobar

29 Jul, 2022
The Andaman & Nicobar Labour Department has published the notification revising the rate of minimum wages that takes effect from 01 July 2022.

All-India Consumer Price Numbers for Industrial Workers, June 2022

30 Jun, 2022
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has released All-India Consumer Price Index(CPI) Numbers for Industrial Workers for the month of June 2022.

Tripura Minimum Wages Notification - April 2022

28 Jun, 2022
The Tripura Government has published the revised rate of minimum wages for the private security guards.

All India Consumer Price Index Numbers - May 2022

13 Jun, 2022
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation National Statistics Office has issued a Press Release for All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) Numbers on Base 2012=100 for Rural, Urban and Combined for the month of May 2022.

Revised Rate of Minimum Wages - Tamil Nadu

10 Jun, 2022
Tamil Nadu Government has notified the revised rate of minimum wages for certain employment.

Himachal Pradesh Minimum wages notification

25 May, 2022
The Labour Department of Himachal Pradesh has released the minimum wages notification that is effective from 01 April 2022.

Labour Bureau releases CPI for Industrial Workers, March, 2022

30 Apr, 2022
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has released Consumer Price Index(CPI) for Industrial Workers, March, 2022, wherein All-India CPI-IW for March, 2022 increased by 1.0 point and stood at 126.0.

Minimum Wages Notification for Tamil Nadu

27 Apr, 2022
The Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department of Tamil Nadu has issued a draft notification for revision of the minimum rates of wages for the employment in the industries of silk twisting, gold, silver articles, forestry and soap manufatoring. These rates of minimum wages will be effective after the expiry of two months from the date of publication of this notification i.e. April 27, 2022.

Uttarakhand Minimum Wages - 01 April 2022 to 30 Sep 2022

31 Mar, 2022
The Government of Uttarakhand has notified the Minimum Wages effective from 1st April 2022 till 30 September 2022.

Central Minimum Wages Notification

31 Mar, 2022
Government of India has released Minimum Wages Notification for the Central sphere effective from 1st April 2022.

Meghalaya Minimum wages notification

31 Mar, 2022
Meghalaya government has released its minimum wages notification that is effective from 01 April 2022.

Tamil Nadu Minimum Wages - 01 April 2022

16 Mar, 2022
Tamil Nadu Government has released the minimum wages dearness allowance notification that is effective from 01 April 2022.

Minimum Wages Notification for Assam - 2021

16 Mar, 2022
Assam Labour Department has published a notification revising the VDA for minimum wages with effect from 01 Dec 2021 for certain scheduled employees and for employees of private security that shall be effective from 01 July 2021.

Uttar Pradesh Minimum Wages - 01 April 2022 to 30 Sep 2022

01 Mar, 2022
Uttar Pradesh Government has notified the minimum wages effective from 1st April 2022 to 30th September 2022.

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (January 2022)

28 Feb, 2022
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has released Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers, for the month of January 2022.
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