Minimum Wages

The Minimum Wages Act covers employments like agriculture, construction, manufacturing, retail, and domestic work. Wages are revised every 5 years (or earlier). The rate is typically fixed by skill level (unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, highly skilled) and by area (state-wise and zone-wise). Floor wage is fixed nationally, and state governments cannot fix wages below the floor. VDA (Variable Dearness Allowance) is revised twice a year based on CPI. Penalties for non-payment of minimum wages range from ₹500 to ₹10,000.