What is the overtime rate under the Minimum Wages Act?

Work beyond the normal hours is paid overtime at twice the ordinary rate of wages under the Minimum Wages Act and rules.

Minimum Wages in Delhi 2026: Latest Rates (Unskilled to Skilled)

Q: What is the minimum wage for an unskilled worker in Delhi?

The minimum wage for an unskilled worker in Delhi is Rs 18,456 per month, effective 1 April 2026, which works out to about Rs 710 per day for a 26-day month.

Q: How often are Delhi minimum wages revised?

Delhi revises its minimum wages twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October, by adjusting the variable dearness allowance (VDA) for the change in the cost of living over the preceding six months.

Category of worker	Per month	Per day (26 days)
Unskilled	₹18,456	₹710
Semi-skilled	₹20,371	₹784
Skilled	₹22,411	₹862
Clerical & supervisory: non-matriculate	₹20,371	₹784
Clerical & supervisory: matriculate, non-graduate	₹22,411	₹862
Clerical & supervisory: graduate and above	₹24,356	₹937

How Delhi sets its minimum wages

Delhi fixes minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, for workers in scheduled employments. Every worker is classified as unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, or clerical and supervisory, and each category has its own rate. Because Delhi treats most establishments as a single zone, the rate mainly depends on the worker's skill category, not their location within the city.

The wage has two parts: a fixed basic rate and a variable dearness allowance (VDA) that tracks the cost of living. Twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October, Delhi updates the VDA, which is why the figures change every six months. Always check the latest notification, as these rates move.

What employers in Delhi must do

Pay every worker at least the minimum wage for their skill category. Paying below it is an offence.
Pay overtime at twice the ordinary rate for work beyond the normal hours.
Maintain a wage register, muster roll and wage slips, and pay within the wage period.
Update payroll each time the rate is revised, in April and October, so no worker slips below the new minimum.

For contractors and staffing firms deploying workers across many sites, keeping every worker at or above the correct Delhi rate by hand is error-prone. ZeniaHR payroll checks each worker's wage against the applicable state minimum automatically, and handles the registers and PF/ESI returns. If you use contract labour, see our contract labour compliance guide.

Related calculators

Work out the deductions on a Delhi wage with our free tools: the in-hand salary calculator, the PF calculator and the ESI calculator. You can confirm the official rates on the Delhi Labour Department website.

Keep every worker on the right wage, automatically

ZeniaHR flags any worker paid below the applicable minimum wage and updates rates at each revision. Built only for manpower and staffing companies.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Delhi in 2026?

Effective 1 April 2026, the monthly minimum wage in Delhi is ₹18,456 for unskilled workers, ₹20,371 for semi-skilled and ₹22,411 for skilled workers. Delhi revises its minimum wages on 1 April and 1 October each year.

What is the minimum wage for an unskilled worker in Delhi?

₹18,456 per month, effective 1 April 2026, which is about ₹710 per day for a 26-day month.

How often are Delhi minimum wages revised?

Twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October, by adjusting the variable dearness allowance (VDA) for the change in the cost of living over the preceding six months.

What is the overtime rate?

Work beyond normal hours is paid at twice the ordinary rate of wages under the Minimum Wages Act and rules.

Minimum wages in Delhi (2026)

How Delhi sets its minimum wages

What employers in Delhi must do

Related calculators

Keep every worker on the right wage, automatically

Frequently asked questions

Minimum wage by scheduled employment