Complaint about unpaid wages or pay below the minimum wage
Where and how to complain to the Labour Department when your wages are not paid, are late or are below the minimum wage, and how to claim what you are owed.
About this guidePending verification
Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
For whom: Anyone working in Telangana: in shops, factories, construction, homes, security, or through a contractor.
Answer the questions below first. Then the documents and steps open.
1Your situation
We show only what your answers need.
- Where do (or did) you work?
- What is the problem?
Your answers stay on this phone.
Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.
2Documents you need
Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.
Details
Wage slips, bank statements showing wages paid in, the appointment letter, an ID card, attendance records
Not confirmed: The online complaint form requires one file to be uploaded; it does not say which file, in what format or of what size.
Sources: 7, 8, 6, 1
Nothing to get ready before these steps.
3Your steps
· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.
- Do this nowIf: Wages not paid, or paid late
Check when wages are due: daily wages at the end of the shift; weekly wages on the last working day before the weekly holiday; fortnightly wages within 2 days after the fortnight; monthly wages before the 7th of the next month.
Sources: 7, 8
- Do this nowIf: Dues not paid after I left or was dismissed
If you were dismissed or retrenched, resigned, or the establishment closed, your wages due must be paid within 2 working days.
Sources: 7
- Do this nowIf: A shop, factory, construction work, a household, a private office, the State government or anywhere elseIf: Paid less than the minimum wage
From 1 June 2026, the basic minimum wage a month in Telangana (municipal corporation / municipality / village and other areas) is: unskilled ₹16,000 / ₹15,000 / ₹14,000; semi-skilled ₹17,000 / ₹16,000 / ₹15,000; skilled ₹18,500 / ₹17,500 / ₹16,500; highly skilled ₹20,000 / ₹19,000 / ₹18,000.
A cost of living allowance (VDA) is added on top. A day's wage is the monthly wage divided by 26. Compare your pay with this.
Not confirmed
The order says wages for power looms, garments, spinning mills, brick kilns, beedi and handloom weaving will be fixed separately by a committee; we did not find them. The Commissioner of Labour announces the cost of living allowance every six months; we have not seen the current amount. The order is subject to the outcome of cases pending in the High Court. Ask a Labour Department officer which rate applies to your work.
Sources: 6
- Do this nowIf: The central government, railways, a mine, an oil field, a major port, an air transport service, telecom, a bank, an insurance company, a central public sector company, or a contractor working for one of themIf: Paid less than the minimum wage
For establishments under the central government, minimum wages are set by the central government, not the State.
Ask the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Hyderabad, which rate applies to your work.
Not confirmed
We have not seen the current rates set by the central government.
Sources: 7, 11
- Do this now
Keep proof of your work and pay.
The employer must give you wage slips, and must put up a notice with the wage rates, the pay day and the name and address of the inspector. Write these down. (The wage slip and notice rules do not apply to an employer with no more than five people for domestic work or agriculture, but such an employer must show the inspector proof of payment when asked.)
Sources: 7, 6
- Do this nowIf: A shop, factory, construction work, a household, a private office, the State government or anywhere else
On the Labour Department website, open "Grievances / Complaints" and choose "Register New Complaint".
Fill in your details and the employer's; choose "Employee Grievances" as the Complaint Category and "Wages" as the Subcategory. Write what happened and upload one proof file. Keep the Application Reference Number you get.
Open the official pageNot confirmed
Nothing on the form asks for a fee. The form asks for your circle (mandal); find it in the "To Know Your Circle" list linked from the form.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: A shop, factory, construction work, a household, a private office, the State government or anywhere else
If you cannot complain online, meet your circle's Assistant Labour Officer (ALO), or the Deputy or Assistant Commissioner of Labour at the district headquarters, and give a written complaint.
The officers' phone numbers are under "Contact Us" on the Labour Department website.
Not confirmed
The citizen's charter does not say in so many words that a written complaint is taken at the office; it says the information is available from those officers.
Sources: 2, 3, 4
- Do this nowIf: The central government, railways, a mine, an oil field, a major port, an air transport service, telecom, a bank, an insurance company, a central public sector company, or a contractor working for one of them
Workers of establishments under the central government can file a complaint or claim on the Labour Ministry's "SAMADHAN 2.0" portal.
Sign up with your mobile number and an OTP (the number cannot be changed later). It is free if you file it yourself or through the UMANG app; a Common Service Centre charges ₹30.
Open the official pageNot confirmed
The SAMADHAN 2.0 website did not open while we wrote this. These details are from the old SAMADHAN portal's FAQs and may have changed on the new portal.
Sources: 9, 10, 7
- Do this nowIf: The central government, railways, a mine, an oil field, a major port, an air transport service, telecom, a bank, an insurance company, a central public sector company, or a contractor working for one of them
Or contact the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Hyderabad: NSTI Campus, Shivam Road, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad 500007; phone 040-27427290.
Sources: 11, 10
- Do this nowIf: A shop, factory, construction work, a household, a private office, the State government or anywhere else
If the employer still does not pay, you can file a claim for the dues before the authority appointed under the Code on Wages.
You, a registered trade union you belong to, or the Inspector-cum-Facilitator can file it, and one application can cover many workers. Besides the dues, the authority can order compensation of up to ten times the claim, and should try to decide within 3 months.
Not confirmed
We did not find which officer is the authority under the Code on Wages in Telangana, or the claim form: the State rules were still drafts in 2026. The central government said the old Acts' rules continue during the change. The Labour Department's citizen's charter says cases under the old Minimum Wages and Payment of Wages Acts are to be decided within 6 months. Ask a Labour Department officer.
Sources: 7, 8, 2, 5
- Do this nowIf: The central government, railways, a mine, an oil field, a major port, an air transport service, telecom, a bank, an insurance company, a central public sector company, or a contractor working for one of them
If the employer still does not pay, you can file a claim for the dues before the authority appointed by the central government under the Code on Wages.
You, a registered trade union you belong to, or the Inspector-cum-Facilitator can file it, and one application can cover many workers. Besides the dues, the authority can order compensation of up to ten times the claim, and should try to decide within 3 months.
Not confirmed
We did not find which officer the central government has appointed as the authority, or the claim form. Ask the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Hyderabad.
Sources: 7, 11
If something goes wrong
If it is lateIf nothing happens within the time limit, complain to the officer above: about an ALO, to the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (ACL); about an ACL, to the Deputy Commissioner of Labour (DCL); about a DCL, to the zone's Joint Commissioner of Labour (JCL); about a JCL, to the Commissioner of Labour.
If nothing happens within the time limit, complain to the officer above: about an ALO, to the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (ACL); about an ACL, to the Deputy Commissioner of Labour (DCL); about a DCL, to the zone's Joint Commissioner of Labour (JCL); about a JCL, to the Commissioner of Labour. You can follow an online complaint under "Track Status of Complaint" with the Application Reference Number.
Labour Department officers (Contact Us) · Open the official page
Sources: 2, 3, 1
If it is lateIf nothing happens on your SAMADHAN complaint, contact the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Hyderabad: 040-27427290.
If nothing happens on your SAMADHAN complaint, contact the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Hyderabad: 040-27427290.
Office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Hyderabad
Sources: 11
If it is rejectedIf you disagree with the authority's order on your claim, you can appeal to the appellate authority (an officer at least one rank above the authority) within 90 days of the order.
If you disagree with the authority's order on your claim, you can appeal to the appellate authority (an officer at least one rank above the authority) within 90 days of the order. A late appeal may be accepted for good reason; it should be decided within 3 months.
Appellate authority (Code on Wages)
Sources: 7
If it is rejectedIf you disagree with the authority's order on your claim, you can appeal to the appellate authority (an officer at least one rank above the authority) within 90 days of the order.
If you disagree with the authority's order on your claim, you can appeal to the appellate authority (an officer at least one rank above the authority) within 90 days of the order. A late appeal may be accepted for good reason; it should be decided within 3 months.
Appellate authority (Code on Wages)
Sources: 7, 11
AlsoIf the employer does not pay even after the authority's order, the authority sends a recovery certificate to the District Collector, who recovers it like land revenue arrears and has it paid to you.
If the employer does not pay even after the authority's order, the authority sends a recovery certificate to the District Collector, who recovers it like land revenue arrears and has it paid to you. Ask at the authority's office.
Office of the claims authority
Sources: 7
AlsoThe SAMADHAN portal does not take PF or ESI problems.
The SAMADHAN portal does not take PF or ESI problems. PF complaints go to the EPFO grievance portal (EPFiGMS); ESI complaints go to ESIC.
EPFO grievance portal (EPFiGMS) · Open the official page
Sources: 10
AlsoIf you need free legal help, go to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in your district court complex.
If you need free legal help, go to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in your district court complex. Toll-free number: 15100.
District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) · Open the official page
Sources: 12
Official websites for this work
- Labour Department (Telangana) Shop registration and labour services
- Legal Services Authority (Telangana) Free legal aid
Related guides
The 12 official pages and papers this guide is written from
- Grievances / Complaints: Complaint Registration Form and Track Status of ComplaintDepartment of Labour, Government of Telangana, Sections 1 (complainant), 2 (complaint category "Employee Grievances"; subcategories Wages, Termination, Working Conditions, OTHERS; description; file upload, required) and 3 (employer); tracking by Application Reference Number. Opened from the home page, "Grievances / Complaints" · read on 30-10-2026
- Citizen's charter of the Labour DepartmentDepartment of Labour, Government of Telangana, III.11 (complaints on non-implementation of minimum wages: 7 days); IV.2 (cases under the Minimum Wages and Payment of Wages Acts: 6 months); IV.3 (complaints of non-enforcement: 14 days); V to X (whom to contact and complain to) · read on 30-10-2026
- Contact us: officers of the Labour Department, their stations and phone numbersDepartment of Labour, Government of Telangana · read on 30-10-2026
- Circles list (to know your circle)Department of Labour, Government of Telangana, Linked from the complaint form, "To Know Your Circle Please Click Here" · read on 30-10-2026
- Department of Labour home page: noticesDepartment of Labour, Government of Telangana, Notice inviting opinions on the four draft State Labour Rules on the Labour Codes (last date 15-06-2026); "State Draft Rules" · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.6, LET&F (Lab-I) Dept., 30.05.2026: The Code on Wages, 2019: revision of minimum wages payable to the employees in the State of Telangana, notificationLabour, Employment, Training & Factories (Lab-I) Department, Government of Telangana (Telangana G.O.I.R.), Para 2; Notification items 1 (Table 1, zones, cost of living allowance), 3 (piece-rated and labour-intensive employments) and 5 (conditions 1, 7 and 12). Found on goir.telangana.gov.in by department LET&F, type MS, year 2026 (30-05-2026) · read on 30-10-2026
- The Code on Wages, 2019 (Act No. 29 of 2019)Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India (text as on 21 November 2025, published on the Telangana Labour Department website), Sections 2(d) (appropriate Government), 17 (time limit for payment of wages), 45 (claims), 49 (appeal) and 50 (registers, notice board, wage slips) (08-08-2019) · read on 30-10-2026
- Government makes the four Labour Codes effective to simplify and streamline labour laws (21 November 2025)Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, Opening paragraph (Codes effective from 21 November 2025); claims up to 3 years; salary by the 7th of every month; transition paragraph (21-11-2025) · read on 30-10-2026
- About SAMADHAN PortalMinistry of Labour & Employment, Government of India (SAMADHAN portal, run by NIC), Banner: cases under the Labour Codes go to Samadhan 2.0; new registration and fresh cases discontinued on the old portal · read on 30-10-2026
- SAMADHAN: FAQsMinistry of Labour & Employment, Government of India (SAMADHAN portal, run by NIC), Matters not dealt with (EPFO, ESIC); no charge when filed yourself or through UMANG; ₹30 at a Common Service Centre; signup with mobile number and OTP; mobile number cannot be changed · read on 30-10-2026
- SAMADHAN: List of Conciliation OfficersMinistry of Labour & Employment, Government of India (SAMADHAN portal, run by NIC), Region: Hyderabad (Dy. CLC(C) Hyderabad, phone and address) · read on 30-10-2026
- IntroductionTelangana State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authorities in the district court complexes; free legal services to the weaker sections; toll-free number 15100 · read on 30-10-2026