The Labour Bureau, Chandigarh (LB), on December 16, 2025, published the half-yearly Consumer Price Index (CPI) / Cost of Living Index Numbers for the Chandigarh Centre for the period April 2025 to September 2025. The CPI (Base 2001 = 100 and 2016 = 100) for the six months stood at 2225, 2220, 2225, 2262, 2272 and 2267, with the average index at 2245 points as on September 2025, reflecting an increase of 24 points over the previous average of 2221 points for the period ending March 2025.
Based on the increase in CPI and applying the per-point neutralization of ₹7/- under the Minimum Wages framework, the minimum wages for monthly rated employees have been enhanced by ₹168 per month. Accordingly, revised minimum wages for both monthly and daily rated employees across categories ranging from Unskilled to Highly Skilled and Class I–III Staff have been notified for the period 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026, including separate wage structures for establishments such as Hotels, Restaurants, Tea Stalls and Halwais, with and without food and lodging.
The notification reiterates that CPI adjustments are calculated using approved linking factors (Base 2016 = 2.79; Base 2001 = 5.26) and clarifies classification of employees as per earlier notifications. It further provides that changes in CPI shall be adjusted in the ratio of 7:1 (cash to meals/tea), and where accommodation is provided by the employer, a maximum deduction of ₹50 per month is permissible. These revisions are binding for wage compliance in UT Chandigarh during the notified period.
