Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Rajasthan Approves New Wage Rules, Caps Weekly Work Hours at 48
The Rajasthan government in India made new rules about work and pay.
These rules say workers should not work more than 48 hours in one week.
If workers have a six-day week, each day can be up to 10.5 hours long, including breaks.
The seventh day is a paid day off.
Workers get a 30-minute break after working for five hours in a row.
If someone has to work on their day off, they must receive extra overtime pay.
The government will decide minimum wages using a fair scientific formula and workers' skills.
The Dearness Allowance, which helps wages keep up with rising prices, will be updated twice a year.
The new rules also move workplace complaints and disputes to online systems.
Union leaders will be chosen through secret votes so the election is fair.
Rajasthan's Cabinet approved the Code on Wages (Rajasthan) Rules, 2026, covering minimum wages and working hours.
Minimum wages will be set using a scientific formula and skill-based classification, with DA linked to the Consumer Price Index and revised twice yearly.
The rules cap the work week at 48 hours, with a maximum of 10.5 hours per day across a six-day week and a paid weekly holiday on the seventh day.
Employees are entitled to a 30-minute rest break after every five consecutive hours and overtime wages for work on weekly holidays.
The state also cleared the Rajasthan Industrial Relations Rules, moving compliance and dispute resolution online and requiring secret ballot elections for negotiating trade unions.
- Who
- The Rajasthan state government, including Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel
- What
- Implementation of the Code on Wages (Rajasthan) Rules, 2026 and the Rajasthan Industrial Relations Rules
- When
- Rules recently approved by the state Cabinet in 2026
- Where
- Rajasthan, India
- Why
- To safeguard workers' interests, ensure transparent wage determination, standardize working hours, and modernize labor administration
- Maximum weekly working hours
- 48 hours
- Maximum daily working hours (six-day week)
- 10.5 hours including rest intervals
- Weekly holiday
- Seventh day is a paid holiday
- Rest break entitlement
- 30 minutes after every five consecutive hours of work
- Dearness Allowance revision
- Twice annually, on April 1 and October 1, linked to the Consumer Price Index
- Rules approved
- Code on Wages (Rajasthan) Rules, 2026 and Rajasthan Industrial Relations Rules
- Trade union election method
- Mandatory secret ballot
- Compliance and disputes
- Shifted entirely to online platforms with defined timelines