The Haryana government has issued a fresh revision of the Minimum Wages Act schedule, updating the floor wages for workers across all categories — unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled. For millions of daily wage workers across the state, this update is both an opportunity and a reminder: your employer is legally bound to pay you at least this much, and anything less is a criminal offence.

Ram Gopal Foundation has been at the forefront of informing workers about these changes through its Labour Chowk outreach programme, which covered five locations across Haryana in 2025. During these events, our team found that a significant majority of workers were being paid below the legally mandated rates — often because they simply did not know what the law required.

What Are the Revised Rates?

The revised wage schedule covers workers in scheduled employment categories. The rates below are indicative of the revised 2025 Haryana minimum wages for the construction and factory sectors — two of the largest employment categories in our outreach regions:

These are minimum rates. Your employer cannot legally pay you less. Overtime hours must be paid at double the applicable daily rate, and if you work on a public holiday, you are entitled to additional compensation as defined under the Act.

Is Your Employer Complying?

Many workers, especially those in the informal and construction sectors, are paid through verbal agreements with contractors or middlemen. This makes it difficult to track whether they are receiving their full legal entitlement. Here are the key signs that your wages may be below the legal minimum:

Warning Signs

• 1
  You have never received a written wage slip or payslip from your employer or contractor.
• 2
  Your daily wage has not changed in over six months despite government revision notifications.
• 3
  You work overtime regularly but receive no additional payment for it.
• 4
  Your employer deducts amounts from your wages without a written explanation.
• 5
  You are being paid in cash with no record kept, making it impossible to prove what you received.

What Can You Do?

If you believe you are being underpaid, you have several legal avenues available to you. The Minimum Wages Act is enforced by the Labour Department, and you can file a complaint without fear of losing your job — retaliatory termination in response to a minimum wage complaint is itself a separate legal offence.

• 1
  Keep a record — Note your working hours, days, and any amounts received. If possible, save any text messages or voice notes from your employer about payment.
• 2
  Request a wage slip — You have a legal right to a wage slip every month. A written request that is refused can itself be used as evidence.
• 3
  Contact the Labour Department — File a complaint with the Haryana Labour Department at their local office or through the state's online grievance portal.
• 4
  Reach out to Ram Gopal Foundation — Our team can help you file the complaint, gather documentation, and represent your case if needed. Call us on 9996607555.

A Note on Contract Workers

Contract workers hired through agencies or middlemen are sometimes told that the minimum wage does not apply to them, or that their "contract" overrides the Act. This is false. The Minimum Wages Act applies to all workers in scheduled employment, regardless of whether they are directly employed or hired through a contractor. The principal employer (the company or person who ultimately benefits from your work) is jointly liable along with the contractor.

Ram Gopal Foundation has successfully helped dozens of contract workers claim their arrear wages by establishing this joint liability in disputes. If you are a contract or outsourced worker being paid below minimum wage, do not hesitate to reach out.