What is Minimum Wages?
Minimum wages are the lowest wages an employer may legally pay, fixed by the appropriate government. Under the Code on Wages, 2019 the right to minimum wages applies to all employees, with a floor wage fixed by the Central Government below which no minimum wage can be set. A legal floor is not a market salary.
Example
A state notifies minimum wage rates by skill and area. An employer paying less than the notified rate for a category breaks the Code, whatever the contract says. Check your state or Central notification for the current rate.
Related
See minimum wage and floor wage.
Related terms and guides
Sources
- The Code on Wages, 2019, https://www.labour.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/06/c328da14bbb15fc4ad571dc33e7a4ab3.pdf, live official page, linked for readers; link checked 2026-10-31
- PIB, Government makes the four Labour Codes effective (21 Nov 2025), https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2192463®=3&lang=2, live official page, linked for readers; link checked 2026-10-31
- Ministry of Labour and Employment, Additional FAQs on Labour Codes (as on 16 Mar 2026), https://www.labour.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/03/a4ccf4c6d97c4f1f36a6d83f8c64213d.pdf, live official page, linked for readers; link checked 2026-10-31
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.