Under the Code on Wages, 2019, the appropriate Government shall fix a floor wage taking into account the minimum living standards of workers, and the minimum wages fixed by the appropriate Government shall bear what relationship to the floor wage?

Section 9 of the Code on Wages, 2019 introduces the concept of a floor wage. The Central Government shall fix a floor wage, taking into account the minimum living standards of workers, and it may fix different floor wages for different geographical areas. Once the floor wage is fixed, the appropriate Government cannot fix minimum wages that are less than the floor wage; any existing minimum wage higher than the floor wage cannot be reduced. This creates a national wage safety net below which no worker's statutory minimum wage can fall, ensuring a baseline standard of living across regions.