In the near future, employers in Uttarakhand will be permitted to engage workers for a maximum of 10 hours per day. Any work performed beyond this limit will require separate payment for overtime. Furthermore, for the first time, the government has decided to establish a scientific formula for determining minimum wage rates, which will now also incorporate expenses related to the education and healthcare of workers’ children. To this end, the Labor Department has released a draft of the ‘Uttarakhand Wage Code Rules, 2026′ and has invited suggestions from the public within a period of one month.
Under the new regulations, significant changes have been introduced—ranging from working hours at the workplace to the criteria used for fixing minimum wages. No worker shall be compelled to work for more than 10 hours in a single day or 48 hours in a week. Additionally, it will be mandatory to provide a rest break of at least half an hour after every six consecutive hours of work.
If a worker performs additional work (overtime), they must be compensated at a rate double their normal wage. The government has sought suggestions from the general public regarding these rules. Any individual having objections to these regulations may submit their feedback via email to the Secretary of the Labor Department or the Labor Commissioner at secretaryswpl25@gmail.com or lcukhld@gmail.com within 30 days of the issuance of the notification.
**Criteria for Minimum Wages**
Henceforth, minimum wages will not be determined merely on the basis of estimates, but rather on scientific parameters. Under this framework, the calculation will account for a daily caloric intake of 2,700 calories per person, an annual cloth requirement of 66 meters per family, and a housing rent component equivalent to 10 percent of the total expenditure on food and clothing. Furthermore, an additional 25 percent of the total wage will be allocated separately to cover expenses related to the education, medical care, and recreation of the workers’ children.
**In-laws Included in the Definition of ‘Family’ for Female Workers**
The new regulations have expanded the scope of the term ‘family’ and provided it with a clear definition. This definition now encompasses the spouse, dependent sons up to the age of 21, unmarried daughters, children with physical or mental disabilities, and dependent parents (which, in the case of a female employee, also includes her parents-in-law). The benefit of this initiative is that the advantages of various labor-related schemes will be able to reach the entire family unit.
Now, there will also be a category of ‘Highly Skilled’ workers.
Previously, based on skill levels, workers were classified into three categories: unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled. The Department of Labor has now introduced a fourth category: ‘Highly Skilled.’ Workers who demonstrate exceptional excellence and possess strong decision-making capabilities will be placed in this fourth category. Their honorariums, wages, and other benefits will be determined accordingly
