Maneser: Min, DC direct industries to implement revised wages amid unrest

Haryana government mandates immediate implementation of a 35% minimum wage hike amid protests by workers for better pay and conditions.

Published on: Apr 10, 2026, 03:32:03 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Amid protests by industrial workers in IMT Manesar, the Haryana government and Gurugram administration on Thursday directed the immediate implementation of the revised minimum wages in the state announced earlier this month.

Workers seen along with police personnel during the protest on Thursday. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

The move comes after protests by thousands of contractual workers in the industrial hub, demanding pay raises and better working conditions.

The Haryana government has notified a nearly 35% hike in minimum wages across categories, effective April 1, 2026. This comes a day after the hike was approved by the cabinet.

Under the revised structure, wages for unskilled workers have increased from ₹11,274.60 to ₹15,220. Semi-skilled workers will now earn ₹16,780.74, up from ₹12,430.18, while skilled workers’ wages have been raised to ₹18,500.81 from ₹13,704.31. Highly skilled workers will now receive ₹19,425.85, compared to ₹14,389.52 earlier.

Haryana industries and commerce minister Rao Narbir Singh told HT that the notification has now been formally issued and industries have been directed to ensure strict compliance. He also raised concerns about contractors not passing on the benefits to workers, among the issues raised by protesting workers.

“It has been observed in many cases that private contractors claim the revised wages but do not pass them on to labourers. We will ensure that monetary transfers are randomly checked and streamlined,” he said.

Calling the wage revision a critical intervention, the Gurugram deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar said, “The Haryana government has taken an important decision in the interest of workers. All industrial institutions must implement the revised minimum wages on priority.”

He added that the wage hike would improve workers’ standard of living, strengthen financial security and contribute to social stability. “This step will boost workers’ morale and positively impact productivity and efficiency in industries,” he said.

The DC also appealed to workers to return to work, stressing the need for cooperation. “Workers and industries are complementary to each other. With mutual coordination, the pace of development can be accelerated,” he said.

Officials of the labour department said monitoring mechanisms were being strengthened to check compliance and prevent violations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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