A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell their labor. Most countries had introduced minimum wage legislation by the end of the 20th century. Because minimum wages increase the cost of labor, companies often try to avoid minimum wage laws by using gig workers, by moving labor to locations with lower or nonexistent minimum wages, or by automating job functions. Minimum wage policies can vary significantly between countries or even within a country, with different regions, sectors, or age groups having their own minimum wage rates. These variations are often influenced by factors such as the cost of living, regional economic conditions, and industry-specific factors.

ਇੱਕ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਉਜਰਤ ਜਾਂ ਨਿਊਨਤਮ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰੀ ਉਹ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਤਨਖਾਹ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ਮਾਲਕ ਨੂੰ ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਕਰਮਚਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਨੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਘੱਟ ਭਾਅ ਤੇ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰ ਆਪਣੀ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਵੇਚਦੇ। ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੇ 20 ਵੀਂ ਸਦੀ ਦੇ ਅੰਤ ਤੱਕ ਘੱਟੋ ਘੱਟ ਉਜਰਤ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਲਾਗੂ ਕੀਤੇ ਸਨ।