Punjab: Minimum wages for workers revised, first hike since 2012

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday passed a resolution to increase minimum wages for workers across public and private sectors by 15 per cent, the first such hike since 2012.

For unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly-skilled workers, the revised base rate varies between 13,486 and Rs 16,601 per month. The revised base rate for daily wage employees (Category A to D) will be between Rs 19,431 and Rs 14,406 per month.

Tabling the resolution in the House, Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said the minimum wages in Punjab were last revised in 2012. He said though the dearness allowance (DA) had seen periodic increases since then, the base rate had remained unchanged. Drawing attention to pending DA of government employees, Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa said since the session had been called to celebrate International Workers’ Day, the government should prioritise the payment of the dues by stopping the salaries of ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats.

As CM Bhagwant Mann hit out at the Congress for not revising the base rate, Bajwa pointed out that it was Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre that had brought the MGNREGA.

Bajwa urged the government to utilise Rs 1,200 crore lying in the Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund.

Prisons Bill gets nod

With an aim to modernise the prisons, the Assembly passed the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026.

Punjab Jails Minister Ravjot Singh tabled the Bill. He said the legislation aimed at transforming prisons from mere custodial institutions into centres of reformation, rehabilitation and social reintegration.

He said the existing legal framework governing prisons was inadequate to address present-day challenges.

Societies Bill passed

The House also passed the Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The Bill, presented by Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and proper functioning of societies. Arora said it would modernise the regulatory framework, governing societies, especially those engaged in health, education, sports, social welfare and charitable activities.