Rajasthan: The Rajasthan government is expected to announce a revision in minimum wage in the coming days, which would be a major relief for thousands of workers in Rajasthan. According to the Labor Department, the proposed wage increase will benefit all types of workers (from unskilled to highly skilled), whether they work in the organized or unorganized sector.
Officials familiar with the matter say the Labor Department has completed almost all consultations on the new proposal. A formal notification is expected soon after final scrutiny. This decision comes amid rising inflation and trade unions demanding better compensation, as workers are facing hardship due to rising inflation..
At present, Rajasthan’s minimum wage structure varies according to the skill category of workers. Existing wage rates were last revised significantly in 2023, when the state government approved an increase of ₹26 per day for labourers. Following that revision, unskilled workers received ₹285 per day, while semi-skilled workers got ₹297, skilled workers ₹309, and highly skilled workers ₹359 per day.
Sources indicated that the upcoming revision may further increase daily and monthly wages to align with the current cost-of-living index. The government is also examining provisions under the Code on Wages Rules, 2026, aimed at strengthening wage protection, ensuring timely salary payments, and improving labour welfare systems across the state.
Labour representatives have welcomed the possibility of a wage hike, saying it would provide much-needed support to workers employed in construction, manufacturing, sanitation, transport, and small-scale industries. Worker organisations have repeatedly argued that stagnant wages and inflation have weakened the purchasing power of low-income families over the past few years.
The anticipated announcement is also being viewed as part of the Rajasthan government’s broader push towards welfare and employment reforms. In recent months, the state administration has introduced measures related to social security pensions, employment generation, and labour welfare initiatives aimed at improving economic conditions for vulnerable groups.
Experts say that increasing the minimum wage would improve the economic well-being of millions of workers, especially those in the informal sector. However, industry fears this could increase costs for small and medium-sized businesses. If approved, the new wage structure will be implemented following an official notification from the Rajasthan Labor Department, directly benefiting a large workforce in the state.
