US Department of Labour (DOL) proposes 30 per cent increase in minimum wages for H1B workers

Key facts

• The US Department of Labour (DOL) proposed a rule on March 27 to increase minimum wages for H1B visa program employees by 30 per cent over previously fixed limits.
• The proposed rule is titled 'Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States'.
• The DOL seeks to increase the prevailing wage for entry-level workers from USD 73,279 to USD 97,746, representing a hike of 33.39 per cent.
• The proposed changes will affect the H1B, H1B1, E-3, and PERM labour certification programmes.
• A presidential order issued on September 19, 2025, had previously imposed a USD 100,000 fee for H-1B candidates located outside the US.