The Central Government has notified the Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2025, replacing 17 existing wage-related rules to streamline and modernise labour law compliance in India.
Saloni Kumari | May 11, 2026 |
Govt Notifies Final Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2025: 17 Old Labour Rules Replaced
The Ministry of Labour and Employment under the Government of India has officially notified the final version of Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2025, through a Notification No. G.S.R. 343(E), dated May 08, 2026. These rules have been developed in exercise of the powers granted under sub-section (1) of section 67 of the Code on Wages, 2019 (29 of 2019).
The government had previously invited feedback (objections and suggestions) on the draft version of the said rules, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, Sub-section (i), through a Notification No. G.S.R. 936 (E), dated December 30, 2025. These objections and suggestions were invited from individuals likely to be affected by these rules within 45 days of the date of publication of the above notification, i.e., December 30, 2025.
After the prescribed time limit ended, the Central Government duly considered the suggestions and objections received from persons and stakeholders on the draft of the Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2025, and accordingly made the necessary changes to the said rules and thereafter issued the final version.
According to the notification, the newly introduced Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2025, will replace the following rules:
| S. No. | Rule Name | Year |
| (i) | Payment of Wages (Procedure) Rules | 1937 |
| (ii) | Payment of Wages (Railways) Rules | 1938 |
| (iii) | Minimum Wages (Central) Rules | 1950 |
| (iv) | Payment of Wages (Mines) Rules | 1956 |
| (v) | Payment of Wages (Procedure) Application to Scheduled Employments Rules | 1962 |
| (vi) | Payment of Wages (Manner of Recovery of Excess Deductions) Rules | 1966 |
| (vii) | Payment of Wages (Air Transport Services) Rules | 1968 |
| (viii) | Payment of Wages (Deductions for National Defence Fund and Defence Savings Scheme) Rules | 1972 |
| (ix) | Payment of Bonus Rules | 1975 |
| (x) | Equal Remuneration Rules | 1976 |
| (xi) | Payment of Undisbursed Wages (Air Transport Services) Rules | 1988 |
| (xii) | Payment of Undisbursed Wages (Mines) Rules | 1989 |
| (xiii) | Central Advisory Committee on Equal Remuneration Rules | 1991 |
| (xiv) | Payment of Wages (Nomination) Rules | 2009 |
| (xv) | Minimum Wages (Central Advisory Board) Rules | 2011 |
| (xvi) | Code on Wages (Central Advisory Board) Rules | 2021 |
| (xvii) | Ease of Compliance to Maintain Register under Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 | — |
Refer to the official notification for complete information.
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