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India reportedly considers shift to living wage by 2025, may affect foreign companies

Jingyue Hsiao, DIGITIMES Asia, Taipei 0

Credit: AFP

India is reportedly considering shifting from minimum wage to living wage by 2025.

It is a move that would align with an agreement reached by a UN agency. The move may affect the operating costs of foreign companies in the South Asian country.

After the International Labor Organization (ILO) reached a consensus regarding the living wage on March 13, the Economic Times quoted an unnamed Indian government official saying that the country is preparing to replace the minimum wage with a living wage by 2025. The source told the Economic Times that living wages may be set at higher than basic minimum wages.

According to Sumita Dawra, the Labor Secretary of India, India has requested assistance from ILO in capacity building, systematic data collection, and gathering evidence on the positive economic impacts arising from the implementation of living wages. According to ILO, a living wage level is deemed essential to ensure workers and their families can maintain a decent standard of living, considering the specific circumstances of each country.

A living wage is calculated based on the work performed during regular working hours, adhering to the organization's principles for estimating such wages. In India, the disparity in minimum wage rates across states poses a challenge for foreign companies seeking to establish offices or facilities within the country.

Unlike implementing a uniform national standard, each state in India sets its minimum wage, contributing to complexities for businesses navigating the diverse regulatory landscape. The minimum wage regulation fell under the jurisdiction of the Minimum Wages Act of 1948.

Although India notified the Code on Wages Act in 2019, trying to replace four labor regulations, including the Payment of Wages Act of 1936, the Payment of Bonus Act of 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, in addition to the Minimum Wages Act of 1948, the Code on Wages Act has not been implemented since notification.

Minimum wages in India state and terrotories

Highly skilled

Highly skilled

Highly skilled

Highly skilled

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

13988

17680

19188

Arunachal Pradesh

6600

7200

NA

Assam

9246.1

13430.85

17265.55

Bihar

10270

13000

15886

Chhattisgarh

10,100 (Zone C)

11,530 (Zone C)

12,310 (Zone C)

10,360 (Zone B)

11,790 (Zone B)

12,570 (Zone B)

10,620 (Zone A)

12,050 (Zone A)

12,830 (Zone A)

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

9237.8

9653.8

NA

Daman and Diu

9237.8

9653.8

NA

Delhi

17494

21215

NA

Goa

10790

13728

NA

Gujarat

12,012-12,298

12,558-12,870

NA

Haryana

10532.84

12802.69

13442.82

Himachal Pradesh

11250

13062

13592

Jammu and Kashmir

8086

12558

14352

Jharkhand

8996.34

12423.87

14351.39

Karnataka

14424.63

16858.07

18260.2

Madhya Pradesh

9825

12060

13360

Maharashtra

12699

14310

NA

Nagaland

5280

7050

NA

Punjab

10353.77

12030.77

13062.77

Rajasthan

6734

7358

8658

Tripura

7277

8928

NA

Uttar Pradesh

10275

12661

NA

Uttarakhand

9,913-10,031

11,070-11,218

NA

West Bengal

9784

11804

13023

Source: India Briefing, March 2024