Wage Rules explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 5 to 9 of the Andhra Pradesh wage rules decide how long a normal working day is, which day is the rest day and how it is paid, when a shift that crosses midnight is counted, and what the longer wage period is for minimum wages. Payroll and rostering depend on them directly.
The Central counterparts are in rules 4 and 5 of the Code on Wages Central Rules, 2026; this article reads the State text. A review of rosters against these rules can be part of a payroll compliance audit.
The rules are the Code on Wages (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026, as notified by G.O.Rt.No.124 dated 29 June 2026. For an employee on a daily wage period the normal working day is eight hours (rule 5(1)); for other wage periods weekly working hours must not exceed forty-eight (rule 5(2)). The rest day is ordinarily Sunday in a six-day week, substitution cannot lead to more than ten consecutive days without a rest day (rule 6), and the longer wage period for minimum wages is the month (rule 9).
Notification and commencement
The rules are the Code on Wages (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026, as notified by G.O.Rt.No.124 dated 29 June 2026. Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette. Rule 1(3) says they come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, and the four Labour Codes were brought into force from 21 November 2025. The first chapter and the minimum-wage calculation are in our first article on these rules.
Rule 5: the normal working day
- Daily wage period (rule 5(1)). The normal working day is eight hours. The interval for rest is "in accordance with notification issued in this regard under Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020". The wage rule says nothing more on the interval, so the OSH notification, not this rule, supplies it. Our OSH article on hours of work, overtime and leave covers the State OSH text.
- Other wage periods (rule 5(2)). The hours constituting a normal working day are to be fixed so that the total weekly working hours do not exceed forty-eight.
Rule 8: categories of employees who may work longer
Rule 8 provides that the number of working hours for certain categories of employees under section 13(2) of the Code "may exceed the normal working hours, specified in rule 5". The proviso says the overtime of these categories "shall be as per section 14" of the Code. The rule itself names no category and gives no figure; the Code section governs overtime and the double rate.
Rule 6: the weekly day of rest
The Central version is rule 6 of the Central Rules. The Andhra Pradesh rule runs as follows.
- Which day. An employee is allowed rest for one day in every week. In a six-day working week the rest day "shall ordinarily be a Sunday". In a week of fewer than six days the rest day "shall include Saturday and Sunday". The employer may fix any other day as the rest day for an employee or class of employees.
- Paid rest days. In a six-day or shorter week, the remaining days of the week are paid rest days for those employees.
- Qualifying period. The employee is entitled to the rest day if he has worked under the same employer for a continuous period of not less than six days (six-day week) or the stipulated number of working days (shorter week). The Explanation counts as worked days: a day of attendance with only an attendance allowance and no work, a day of lay-off on compensation under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and any leave or holiday, with or without pay, in that period.
- Notice. The rest day, and any later change, must be notified before the change is effected, by notice at a conspicuous place in the place of employment or electronically.
- Substituted rest day (rule 6(2)). No work on the rest day unless a substituted rest day is given on a working day in the week immediately before or after it. No substitution may result in the employee working more than ten days consecutively without a rest day.
- Weekly hours (rule 6(3)). A rest day worked with a substitute is included, for weekly hours, in the week in which the substituted day falls.
- Pay (rule 6(4)). Wages for the rest day are at the rate applicable to the previous working day. If the employee works on the rest day and gets a substitute, he is paid for the rest day worked at the overtime rate and for the substituted day at the previous working day rate.
- No separate rest day wages in some cases. In a six-day week, no rest day wages are payable where the minimum monthly rate (or actual monthly rate, if not below the notified minimum daily rate) has been worked out by dividing by twenty-six. In that case, where the employee works on the rest day with a substitute, he is paid only for the day worked, at the overtime rate, "which shall not be less than twice the normal rate of wages".
- Piece rate. A piece-rate employee is paid for the rest day worked at the overtime rate and for the substituted rest day at the previous working day rate.
- More favourable terms (rule 6(5)). Better terms under any other law, award, agreement or contract of service prevail.
The proviso to rule 6(4) says a dispute whether the daily rate of wages was worked out in accordance with it may be decided by "the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) or the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) having jurisdiction" after giving the parties an opportunity of written representations. The State text prints it in these words, so employers with Central-sphere units should note it.
"Week" means a period of seven days beginning at midnight on Saturday night, and "previous working day" is the last day worked before the rest day or substituted rest day.
Rule 7: night shifts
For a shift that extends beyond midnight, a rest day "for the whole day" means twenty-four consecutive hours beginning from the time the shift ends. The following day is deemed to be the twenty-four hours from the end of the shift, and the hours after midnight worked are counted towards the previous day. See also rules 7 to 9 of the Central Rules.
Rule 9: the longer wage period
For the minimum rate of wages under section 14 of the Code, the longer wage period "shall be by the month".
At a glance
| Subject | Rule | As printed |
|---|---|---|
| Normal day, daily wage period | 5(1) | Eight hours; interval per the OSH Code notification |
| Weekly hours, other wage periods | 5(2) | Not to exceed forty-eight |
| Rest day, six-day week | 6(1) | Ordinarily Sunday |
| Rest day, shorter week | 6(1) | Shall include Saturday and Sunday |
| Limit on substitution | 6(2) proviso | No more than ten days consecutively without a rest day |
| Overtime rate on rest day with substitute | 6(4)(iii) | Not less than twice the normal rate of wages |
| Night shift rest day | 7(1) | Twenty-four consecutive hours from the end of the shift |
| Longer wage period | 9 | By the month |
A worked example
Godavari Cold Storage, an invented firm in Rajahmundry, runs a six-day week. A loader is called on a Sunday to clear a delayed consignment. The supervisor gives him a substituted rest day on Tuesday of the same week and displays the change on the notice board before the Sunday. The firm checks that the loader has not worked more than ten days in a row without a rest day and pays the Sunday work at the overtime rate, which the rule says must not be less than twice the normal rate where the monthly wage was divided by twenty-six.
Common lapses
- Changing a rest day without a prior notice on the board or electronically.
- Giving a substituted rest day too late, so the run exceeds ten days.
- Applying the rest day pay rule to piece-rate staff as if they were monthly paid.
- Reading the interval for rest from the wage rules, when rule 5(1) points to the OSH Code notification.
Need help with rosters and rest-day pay?
An hours and rest-day audit that checks rosters, substitution records and overtime working against rules 5 to 9 will show gaps before an inspection does. Our payroll compliance audit team can help with that review.
Key takeaways
- Normal day: eight hours for daily wage periods; forty-eight weekly hours cap for other wage periods.
- Rest day: Sunday in a six-day week; Saturday and Sunday included in shorter weeks; notice before any change.
- Substituted rest day: never more than ten consecutive days without a rest day.
- Work on the rest day is paid at the overtime rate, not less than twice the normal rate in the cases in rule 6(4)(iii).
- Night shifts: the day is counted from the end of the shift; the longer wage period is the month.
Read next
- Code on Wages (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: the final notification, commencement and calculation of minimum wages
- Code on Wages (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: payment of wages, deductions, fines and advances
- OSH (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: hours of work, overtime, leave and employment of women
- Rule 6 of the Code on Wages Central Rules, 2026: weekly day of rest
Disclaimer: Based on the State or Union territory rules named above, as notified under the Labour Codes and consulted on 4 October 2026. Later amendments, State notifications, fees and forms should be checked in the State Gazette and on the State labour department website. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.