In a significant move to streamline labor laws and improve transparency, the Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu has released the Draft Wages Regulation 2025. This draft aims to enhance the existing wage structures, ensuring timely payments, preventing unlawful deductions, and improving compliance with labor laws.
The announcement was made on June 17, 2025, by the Department of Labour & Employment, Daman. This step comes in line with the Code on Wages, 2019, which was enacted by the Government of India to simplify and regulate wage-related matters across the country.
Why Is the Draft Wages Regulation 2025 Important?
The draft regulation addresses the growing need for a more efficient and transparent wage system in the region. With Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu emerging as an industrial hub, there is a pressing requirement to ensure fair practices in wage payments and benefits. By following the guidelines of the Code on Wages, 2019, this regulation aims to:
- Standardize wage structures for workers across different industries.
- Ensure timely payments of wages and bonuses.
- Prevent unlawful wage deductions and abuses.
- Provide clarity on minimum wage entitlements for workers.
The regulation also serves to facilitate ease of compliance, ensuring that businesses in the territory adhere to national standards with minimal effort.
Key Features of the Draft Wages Regulation
The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Wages Regulation, 2025 is a comprehensive framework designed to meet the evolving needs of the industrial landscape. Although specific details of the regulation are yet to be fully disclosed, it is expected to cover the following key aspects:
- Minimum Wage Requirements: Clear definitions of minimum wages to ensure fair compensation for workers.
- Bonus Payment Structure: Guidelines to guarantee workers are paid any bonuses due under legal stipulations.
- Wage Deductions: Rules regarding lawful and unlawful deductions from workers’ wages.
- Employee Benefits: Provision of timely employee welfare benefits as per the regulations.
Call for Feedback from Stakeholders
The Administration has made a draft copy of the Wages Regulation 2025 available to the public and invites comments, views, and suggestions from all stakeholders. This includes industry representatives, trade unions, and general workers. Interested parties are encouraged to send their feedback to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Labour) at the following address:
- Address: Secretariat, Vidyut Bhawan, Kachigam, Nani Daman
- Deadline: Comments must be submitted within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice (before July 17, 2025).
A Step Toward Labor Reforms
The move to introduce these regulations aligns with the Administration’s ongoing efforts to implement labor reforms and ensure the smooth functioning of the industrial sector. This is part of their larger goal of making the region a more attractive destination for businesses while safeguarding the rights and welfare of workers.
Conclusion
As the region progresses toward becoming an industrial hub, it is essential that wage structures evolve to support a fair and transparent labor market. The Draft Wages Regulation 2025 seeks to ensure that both workers and businesses can operate within a framework of fairness, responsibility, and efficiency
