The Government of Kerala (GoK), on March 13, 2026, issued a proposal under the Code on Wages, 2019 to revise minimum wages for workers employed in the plantation sector, superseding its earlier notification dated August 8, 2025. The proposal has been published in the Kerala Gazette for stakeholder consultation, inviting objections and suggestions within two months before finalization.
The revised wage structure covers Tea, Rubber, Coffee, and Cardamom plantations, prescribing updated minimum time rates, piece rates, and salary scales for various categories such as field workers, factory workers, supervisors, and other special categories. It also introduces specific provisions for guaranteed time rates, productivity-linked piece rates, and additional incentives (e.g., for rubber tapping beyond standard output), along with fixed special settlement allowances.
Further, the notification lays down general conditions including fitment benefits, job differentials, service weightage based on tenure, and Dearness Allowance linked to CPI (Ernakulam centre). It ensures employment protection, mandates preservation of higher existing wages, and specifies that revised rates will be effective from April 1, 2026, subject to alignment with the national floor wage.
[Notification No. LBRD-E1/41/2026-LBRD]
