Wages, Payments and Delays

Workers were paid state-set wages, and late payment became one of the scheme's biggest complaints.

Getting paid on time is vital for poor households.

Wage rates

States set wage rates within a national framework, and they varied widely.

Wages moved from cash to bank accounts and later to Aadhaar-linked systems.

Workers often waited weeks or months for payment, which defeats the purpose of a safety net.

Rules require compensation for late wages, but it is not always paid.

Waiting for wages

A worker who finished a fortnight of work receives nothing for a month and borrows to buy food.

Overlooking delays as a minor problem

For daily-wage households, delays are serious.

Key takeaways