Code on Wages, 2019 - Sections, Minimum Wages, Payment of Wages and Bonus
The Code on Wages, 2019 (Act No. 29 of 2019), enacted on 8 August 2019, consolidates the central laws relating to wages, minimum wages, payment of wages, bonus and equal remuneration.
Current legal status: The Central Government brought the principal provisions of the Code into force with effect from 21 November 2025 through S.O. 5322(E) dated 21 November 2025. The Code now operates as part of India's four-labour-code framework, subject to the applicable provisions, rules, notifications and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Act number29 of 2019
Enactment date8 August 2019
Principal commencement21 November 2025
The long title of the Code describes it as an Act to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages and bonus and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The chapter-wise index below provides access to the individual section pages available on this website.
Chapter I - Preliminary
- Section 1Short title, extent and commencement
- Section 2 definitions - Code on Wages 2019
- Section 3 Prohibition of discrimination on ground of gender, Section 4 Decision as to disputes with regard to same or similar nature of work
Chapter II - Minimum Wages
- Section 5 Payment of Minimum rate of Wages, Section 6 Fixation of Minimum wages
- Section 7 Components of Minimum Wages
- Section 8 Procedure for fixing and revising minimum wages
- Section 9 Power of Central Government to fix floor wage
- Section 10 Wages of employee who works for less than normal working day
- Section 11 Wages for two or more classes of work Section 12 Minimum time rate piece work
- Section 13 Fixing hours of work for normal working day
- Section 14 Wages for overtime work
Chapter III - Payment of Wages
- Section 16 Fixation of Wage Period, Section 17 Time Limit for payment of wage
- Section 18 Deductions which may be made from wages
- Section 19 Fines
- Section 20 Deductions for absence from duty
- Section 21 Deductions for damage or loss Section 22 Deduction for services rendered
- Section 23 Deductions for recovery of advances, Section 24 Deduction for recovery of loans, 25 not applicable to government
Chapter IV - Payment of Bonus
- Section 26 Eligibility for bonus, etc
- Section 27 Proportionate reduction in bonus in certain cases Section 28 Computation of number of working days
- Section 29 Disqualification for bonus Section 30 Establishments to include departments, undertakings and branches
- Section 31 Payment of bonus out of allocable surplus Section 32 Computation of gross profits
- Section 33 Computation of available surplus Section 34 Sums deductible from gross profits
- Section 35 Calculation of direct tax payable by employer
- Section 36 Set on and set off of allocable surplus
- Section 37 Adjustment of customary or interim bonus against bonus payable under this Code Section 38 Deduction of certain amounts from bonus payable
- Section 39 Time limit for payment of bonus
- Section 40 Application of this Chapter to establishments in public sector in certain cases Section 41 Non applicability of this Chapter
Chapter V - Advisory Board
Chapter VI - Payment of Dues, Claims and Audit
- Section 43 Responsibility for payment of various dues
- Section 44 Payment of various un disbursed dues in case of death of employee
- Section 45 Claims under Code and procedure thereof
- Section 46 Reference of disputes under this code
- Section 47 Presumption about accuracy of balance sheet and profit and loss account of corporations and companies
- Section 48 Audit of account of employers not being corporations or companies
- Section 49 Appeal
- Section 50 Records, returns and notices
Chapter VII - Inspector-cum-Facilitator
Chapter VIII - Offences and Penalties
Chapter IX - Miscellaneous
- Section 57 Bar of suits Section 58 Protection of action taken in good faith
- Section 59 Burden of proof Section 60 Contracting out
- Section 61 Effect of laws agreements, etc. inconsistent with this Code Section 62 Delegation of powers
- Section 63 Exemption of employer from liability in certain cases
- Section 64 Protection against attachments of assets of employer with Government Section 65 Power of Central Government to give direction
- Section 66 Saving Section 67 Power of appropriate Government to make rules
- Section 68 Power to remove difficulties Section 69 Repeal and savings
Legal note: This page is a structured reading index. For authoritative text, commencement notifications and rules, consult the official resources listed alongside this article. State rules, notifications and wage rates may also be relevant depending on the establishment and the appropriate government.