Government of Maharashtra has published the draft rules proposed under the Code on Wages, 2019 for information of persons likely to be affected. The draft is issued after superseding the Maharashtra Minimum Wages Rules, 1963 and Maharashtra Payment of Wages Rules, 1963. Objections and suggestions are invited within forty-five days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
The draft rules titled “Maharashtra Code on Wages Rules, 2026” are proposed to apply to the whole State of Maharashtra. The rules contain provisions relating to definitions, calculation of minimum wages, standards for fixation of minimum wages, revision of dearness allowance, working hours, weekly rest, wage period, deductions, recovery, constitution and functioning of the State Advisory Board, and related procedural aspects. The rules specify criteria for determining minimum wages, including consumption units, calorie intake, clothing, housing rent, fuel and other expenditures. Provisions also cover classification of occupations into unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled categories, and constitution of a technical committee for advisory purposes.

The rules further prescribe conditions for weekly rest, working hours, overtime, wage deductions, recovery of advances, and procedures for penalties. They also provide for constitution, composition, meetings, quorum, and functions of the State Advisory Board. The draft includes procedures for notice display, approval for imposition of fines, and maintenance of records. These provisions apply to employers, employees, and authorities governed under the Code on Wages, 2019 within the State of Maharashtra

“1. Short title, extent and commencement.—
(1) These rules shall be called the Maharashtra Code on Wages Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall extend to the whole of the State of Maharashtra.
(3) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.”

“3. Manner of calculation of minimum rate of wages.—
(1) For the purposes of sub-section (5) of section 6, the minimum rate of wages shall be fixed on a daily basis taking into account the following criteria:—
(a) A standard working-class family which includes a spouse and two children apart from the earning worker, equivalent to three adult consumption units;
(b) A net intake of 2700 calories per day per consumption unit;
(c) 66 metres of cloth per year per standard working-class family;
(d) Housing rent expenditure to constitute 10 per cent of food and clothing expenditure;
(e) Fuel, electricity and other miscellaneous items of expenditure to constitute 20 per cent of minimum wages;
(f) Expenditure for children’s education, medical requirements, recreation and contingencies to constitute 25 per cent of minimum wages.”