The Government of Karnataka on May 22, 2026, issued the Consolidated Revision of Minimum Wages for 81 Scheduled Employments with Zone-wise Structure and VDA Framework.
The following has been stated namely: -
• Government of Karnataka issued a consolidated Gazette notification revising minimum wages for 81 scheduled employments under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
• The revision follows prolonged litigation (AITUC vs State) before the Karnataka High Court and subsequent directions requiring fresh computation, consultation, and issuance of a final notification after due process.
• Wages are revised for 81 existing employments (Schedules 1 & 2) and newly added employments (Schedule 3), covering sectors like manufacturing, construction, services, transport, healthcare, agriculture, and emerging sectors like e-commerce and cyber centres.
• Minimum wages are fixed under a zone-based system (Zone-1 Bengaluru, Zone-2 district HQs/cities, Zone-3 other areas) and skill categories (Highly Skilled, Skilled, Semi-Skilled, Unskilled) with detailed daily and monthly rates prescribed for each category.
• Revised wages reflect updated rates with increases. For example, Unskilled workers in Zone-1 earn ₹989/day (~₹25,714/month), with higher rates for skilled categories up to ₹1,316.36/day (~₹34,225/month).
• VDA will be revised annually from April 01, linked to CPI, payable at ₹0.04 per day per CPI point above 9,469, ensuring inflation-adjusted wage protection.
• It is Mandatory to pay equally for equal work across gender and third gender, including uniform wages for differently abled workers performing similar tasks.
• Overtime and holiday work must be paid at double the normal wage, and working hours are standardized at 8 hours per day for full wage calculation.
• Wages must be paid via bank transfer or cheque, with monthly wage calculated using 26 working days, and rounding rules defined for fractions.
• Piece-rate workers must receive at least minimum daily wage equivalent for 8 hours, ensuring parity with regular wage workers.
• Schedule Structure:
o Schedule 1: 60+ established employments
o Schedule 2: Special sectors (e.g., scavenging, power generation, foundries, chemicals)
o Schedule 3: Newly added employments (e-commerce, cyber centres, religious institutions, etc.)
• Government retains power to classify jobs into skill categories and add new employments/designations under Schedule-5 classification system.
All employers in the 81 scheduled employments must immediately revise wages to match the new zone-wise minimum wage rates
This shall come into force from May 22, 2026.
[Notification No. KA 411 LWA 2023]
