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Historically, there has been no single minimum wage in India, with the minimum depending on location (with urban locations like Delhi or Mumbai having the highest minimum wages) and industry (with unskilled work having a much lower minimum wage).
In 2019, this changed with a mandated national minimum wage that employers are required to pay being introduced.
This means that the rate varies between 178 Rupees ($2.16 USD) per day to 423 Rupees ($6.35 USD) per day depending on region or city as of 2023.
There are regional variations of minimum wage floors in India. Generally, non-labored workers in the Kerala region see the highest minimum daily rates, while across the rest of the country, similar levels of minimum wage exist for non-laboured workers. In New Delhi, a new minimum wage floor came into effect as of October 2022. This monhly rate varied between scheduled employment types based on if a worker was unskilled (16,792 INR), semi-skilled (18,499 INR), skilled (20,357 INR), non-matriculate (18,499 INR), or a Graduate (22,146 INR). This minimum is per month.
The minimum wage floor across the country is India has seen little change over the last five years. However, how the minimum wage has been regulated has changed, whereas the Minimum Wages Act (1948) previously regulated the minimum wage, but as of August 2019, it is governed by the Code on Wages Act (2019).
| Date | Min. wage, hourly rate (INR) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | ₹178 + (first national minimum) |
| 2022 | ₹178 + (first national minimum) |
| 2021 | ₹178 + (first national minimum) |
| 2020 | ₹178 + (first national minimum) |
| 2019 | ₹178 + (first national minimum) |
| 2018 | ₹273 +(depending on area and industry) |
| 2017 | ₹273 + (depending on area and industry) |
| 2016 | ₹214 + (depending on area and industry) |
The minimum wage in the majority of India is considerably lower than those seen in many South East Asian markets. This makes India one of the more competitive markets when foreign companies are looking for cheap skilled labor, especially in manufacturing.
Yes, there are differences in minimum wage requirements for foreigners. To be eligible for an employment visa in India, a foreigner must have a minimum salary of 1,625,000 INR or 910,000 INR for an annual foreign teacher’s salary.
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The reported media salary in India is around 29,400 INR, which is approximately $377.82 USD a month. This is just under 6 times the floor level minimum wage.
No. Generally speaking, skilled workers will expect more than the minimum wage.
India – Minimum Wage Over the Years
