Minimum Wages in Gujarat 2025

State-wise Minimum Wages

Fair pay, not just a policy; it’s a necessity. In Gujarat, one of India’s most industrially vibrant states, minimum wages play a crucial role in protecting the workforce across factories, shops, services, and the vast informal economy. With the latest wage revisions effective from April 2025, it’s essential for both employers and employees to stay updated on what’s legally due. This blog breaks down everything you need to know, from wage rates by skill and zone to real-world challenges and compliance tips.

Legal Framework & Revision Cycle

Minimum wages in Gujarat are governed by the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, with revisions posted twice a year. The most recent orders are effective April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025. They have updated rates for 46 scheduled employment categories including security services, cleaning, Agar Batti manufacturing, and shipbreaking.

The state is divided into two zones:

Zone I: Urban centers under municipal corporations

Zone II: Other municipalities and towns with populations over 1 lakh.

Structure for Minimum Wages in Gujarat (April–Sept 2025)

Effective from Date: 1st April, 2025

General Scheduled Employments (Shops, Establishments, etc.)

Skill Level	Zone	Basic Wage (₹/day)	VDA (₹/day)	Total (₹/day)	Monthly (₹)
Unskilled	Zone I	₹452.00	₹45.50	₹497.50	₹12,935
Unskilled	Zone II	₹441.00	₹45.50	₹486.50	₹12,649
Semi‑skilled	Zone I	₹462.00	₹45.50	₹507.50	₹13,195
Semi‑skilled	Zone II	₹452.00	₹45.50	₹497.50	₹12,935
Skilled	Zone I	₹474.00	₹45.50	₹519.50	₹13,507
Skilled	Zone II	₹462.00	₹45.50	₹507.50	₹13,195

Monthly wages are calculated based on 26 working days per month, following standard legal practice in India.

Minimum Wages in Gujarat Per Day

The following table mentions the current minimum wages in Gujarat per day:

Class of Employment	Zone	Basic Per Day	VDA Per Day	Total Minimum Wages Per Day
Unskilled	Zone I	Rs. 452.00	Rs. 35.00	Rs. 487.00
Unskilled	Zone II	Rs. 441.00	Rs. 35.00	Rs. 476.00
Semi-Skilled	Zone I	Rs. 462.00	Rs. 35.00	Rs. 497.00
Semi-Skilled	Zone II	Rs. 452.00	Rs. 35.00	Rs. 487.00
Skilled	Zone I	Rs. 474.00	Rs. 35.00	Rs. 509.00
Skilled	Zone II	Rs. 462.00	Rs. 35.00	Rs. 497.00

Minimum Wages in Gujarat Per Month

The following table mentions the current minimum wages in Gujarat per month:

Class of Employment	Zone	Basic Per Month	VDA Per Month	Total Minimum Wages Per Month
Unskilled	Zone I	Rs. 11,752.00	Rs. 910.00	Rs. 12,662.00
Unskilled	Zone II	Rs. 11,466.00	Rs. 910.00	Rs. 12,376.00
Semi-Skilled	Zone I	Rs. 12,012.00	Rs. 910.00	Rs. 12,922.00
Semi-Skilled	Zone II	Rs. 11,752.00	Rs. 910.00	Rs. 12,662.00
Skilled	Zone I	Rs. 12,324.00	Rs. 910.00	Rs. 13,234.00
Skilled	Zone II	Rs. 12,012.00	Rs. 910.00	Rs. 12,922.00

Minimum Wages in Gujarat For Skilled Labour

The following table mentions the current minimum wages in Gujarat for skilled workers:

Skilled	Zone I	Rs. 509.00	Rs. 13,234.00
Skilled	Zone II	Rs. 497.00	Rs. 12,922.00

Minimum Wages in Gujarat For Unskilled Labour

The following table mentions the current minimum wages in Gujarat for unskilled workers:

Class of Employment	Zone	Total Minimum Wages Per Day	Total Minimum Wages Per Month
Unskilled	Zone I	Rs. 487.00	Rs. 12,662.00
Unskilled	Zone II	Rs. 476.00	Rs. 12,376.00

Minimum Wages in Gujarat for Sweeping & Cleaning Work

Wage rates for sweepers and cleaning personnel also vary by designated area:

Area	Daily Total (₹)	Monthly (₹)
Area A (Ahmedabad ±10 km)	₹487.00	₹12,662
Area B (Rajkot, Surat, etc.)	₹487.00	₹12,662
Area C (Other areas)	₹476.00	₹12,376

These rates combine ₹35 VDA (the same as previous period) with the basic wage. Thus, ensuring parity across cleaning roles in various urban zones.

What is the Need for Revision of Minimum Wages in Gujarat

These updates aim to keep wages aligned with inflation by tying VDA to the six-month average Cost of Living Index. The ₹45.50/day VDA reflects recent CPI trends and helps workers maintain purchasing power.

Gujarat’s Wage Context & Broader Trends

Despite being an industrially advanced state, Gujarat faces criticism for low informal wages. Reddit-based voices and analysts note that:

Informal-sector workers earn barely ₹17,500/month on average, lower than states like Maharashtra (₹23,700) or Karnataka (₹25,600).

RBI data places Gujarat’s farm and non-agricultural daily wages among the lowest nationwide, around ₹270–₹320 a day.

These reports, along with recently rising daily wage-related suicides, highlight a stark gap between statutory minimums and actual earnings on the ground.

Enforcement & Workers’ Rights

Employers must pay at least the notified minimum wage + VDA.

Workers can file complaints with the Gujarat Labour Commissionerate for underpayment.

For contract labour, compliance with both the Minimum Wages Act and specific contractual regulations is mandatory.

Points to Remember

For April–September 2025, Gujarat’s minimum wages for general employments range between ₹12,649 to ₹13,507/month, depending on zone and skill level.

Zone I workers (e.g. in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara) receive slightly higher wages than Zone II.

VDA is currently ₹45.50/day across zones and categories.

Ground realities show informal wages lag significantly behind legal minima.

Greater enforcement, awareness, and linkage with contract labour provisions are essential.

Implications for Stakeholders

Employers: Must update payroll systems to reflect new rates and ensure compliance.

Workers & Trade Unions: Should track entitled wage bands and raise timely grievances via official authority.

Government & NGOs: Need to strengthen inspection mechanisms, conduct awareness campaigns, and monitor implementation, especially in informal sectors and rural areas.

Conclusion

Gujarat’s April 2025 wage update is a structured step toward inflation‑indexed worker compensation. However, to translate policy into tangible impact, enforcement must improve, particularly among contract and informal workers. Closing the gap between legal standards and actual wages remains the real challenge and the essential mission ahead.