Bhubaneswar, May 10 -- Nearly one-fourth of India's casual workforce is being paid below the statutory minimum wage, according to a research report by the State Bank of India based on the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 data. The report highlighted glaring regional disparities in wage regulation, with eastern states recording the highest levels of non-compliance.

Chhattisgarh emerged as the worst-affected state, where nearly 70 per cent of casual workers reportedly earned less than the legal minimum wage. Odisha followed closely with 66 per cent, while Jharkhand recorded 65 per cent violations.

The findings indicate that a majority of casual labourers in these states continue to work without the financial safeguards guar...