Status
Mandatory for All Employers
Effective Period
1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026
Notification
Consolidated · w.e.f. 1 Oct 2025
Issued by the Labour Department, Chandigarh Administration. Applies to every employer registered under General Scheduled Employment in Chandigarh. Non-compliance attracts penalty under the Code on Wages, 2019.
Minimum Wages in Chandigarh
2026 — Skill-Wise Rates
Official minimum wage rates for the Union Territory of Chandigarh - a single UT-wide schedule (no zones), published as consolidated figures and revised half-yearly. The figures below are the latest published cycle (Oct 2025 - Mar 2026).
Quick Answer
Chandigarh’s minimum wages range from ₹14,562/month (Unskilled) to ₹15,637/month (Highly-skilled), with clerical staff around ₹14,837/month. Consolidated UT-wide rates.
₹14,562 - ₹15,637
per month · General Scheduled Employment
Structure
ConsolidatedNext revision
1 April 2026 (verify)Last updated: June 2026. Figures are compiled from the latest available notifications and reputable compliance sources and are provided for guidance only. Minimum wages and VDA change frequently - verify against the official notification (Chandigarh Labour Department) before using for payroll.
Complete Rate Card - by Skill
Chandigarh UT-wide minimum wage by skill, monthly and daily (consolidated).
| Category | Per Month | Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹14,562 | ₹560 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹14,712 | ₹566 |
| Skilled | ₹15,012 | ₹577 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹15,637 | ₹601 |
| Clerical / Class III | ₹14,837 | ₹571 |
Consolidated UT-wide rates (DA inclusive; not split into Basic + VDA); monthly figures, daily = monthly ÷ 26. Revised half-yearly (April and October). These are the Oct 2025-Mar 2026 figures; an April 2026 revision was due - confirm the current notification before payroll use. Do not apply Punjab or central rates to UT Chandigarh.
How Chandigarh Structures Minimum Wages (No Zones)
Chandigarh is a single UT with one uniform schedule:
UT-wide rates
One schedule across Chandigarh - no zones (and distinct from Punjab / central rates).
Consolidated wage
Figures are DA-inclusive totals, not split into Basic + VDA.
Half-yearly VDA
Revised on 1 April and 1 October, tracking the CPI for Industrial Workers.
What Every Chandigarh Employer Must Do
Pay at least the notified zone-wise rate
Use the rate matching each branch’s location - not the head-office zone. Paying below the notified minimum is illegal even if the employee agrees.
Apply the latest VDA / revised rate
Update payroll the moment a new notification or VDA revision is published. Arrears apply from the effective date, not the date you noticed.
Maintain wage & attendance registers
Keep statutory registers, wage slips and muster rolls. Inspectors can demand records for the past several years.
Layer statutory costs correctly
On top of minimum wage, account for PF (12% of basic), ESI (3.25% if wage ≤ ₹21,000), bonus and gratuity provision.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Under the Code on Wages, 2019 (in force across India from 21 November 2025), paying any worker below the notified minimum wage attracts a fine up to ₹50,000 for a first offence, and imprisonment up to 3 months or a fine up to ₹1,00,000 (or both) for a repeat offence within five years. The employer must also pay the full wage arrears due. Failing to maintain the prescribed wage and attendance registers carries a further fine up to ₹10,000. The Chandigarh Labour Department enforces this through Inspector-cum-Facilitator inspections across Chandigarh's retail, hospitality, IT and private-security establishments, so Chandigarh employers should keep payroll and statutory registers audit-ready year-round.
Source: Code on Wages, 2019 (Act 29 of 2019), Sec. 54 · Chandigarh Labour Department
Download the Chandigarh Minimum Wages 2026 Rate Card
Get the full PDF - all zones, every role band, VDA breakdown and an employer compliance checklist. Free, ready for your HR & payroll records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Chandigarh in 2026?
UT-wide rates range from Rs.14,562/month (Unskilled) to Rs.15,637/month (Highly-skilled), with clerical staff around Rs.14,837/month. These are the Oct 2025-Mar 2026 figures; verify if an April 2026 revision applies.
Does Chandigarh follow Punjab minimum wages?
No. Chandigarh has its own UT-wide schedule, which is lower than Punjab's. Do not apply Punjab or central rates to Chandigarh employments.
How often are Chandigarh minimum wages revised?
Half-yearly, on 1 April and 1 October, tracking the CPI for Industrial Workers.
What is the penalty for paying below minimum wage?
Paying below the notified minimum is illegal even with consent. Under the Code on Wages, 2019 employers face fines up to Rs.50,000 (first offence) and up to Rs.1,00,000 with imprisonment for repeat offences, plus full wage arrears.
Does minimum wage include PF and ESI?
No. Minimum wage is the gross paid to the worker. PF (12% of basic), ESI (3.25% of gross if wage is up to Rs.21,000), bonus and gratuity are additional employer costs.
Explore Minimum Wages Across India
Minimum wages differ by state, zone, skill and industry. Compare Chandigarh with other states, or see the full national overview.
Stop tracking minimum wage changes in spreadsheets
factoHR Chennai auto-applies zone-wise minimum wages, VDA, PF, ESI and PT, and generates statutory-compliant payslips and registers - so Chandigarh businesses stay compliant without the manual work.
