The Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Department, Telangana on May 30, 2026, issued the notification regarding the
The following has been stated namely: -
• The Government of Telangana has revised and fixed minimum wages for all establishments covered under the Code on Wages, 2019.
• The notification supersedes all earlier minimum wage notifications issued under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 in Telangana.
• The revised wages are applicable to all employments listed in Schedule I and Schedule II and to workers classified under the skill categories in Schedule III.
• Minimum monthly wages have been fixed based on geographical zones:
o Zone I (Municipal Corporations):
i. Unskilled: ₹16,000
ii. Semi-skilled: ₹17,000
iii. Skilled: ₹18,500
iv. Highly Skilled: ₹20,000
o Zone II (Municipalities):
i. ₹15,000 to ₹19,000
o Zone III (Rural and Other Areas):
i. ₹14,000 to ₹18,000
• The revised wage structure is subject to the outcome of pending writ petitions and court cases before the High Court and other courts.
• Four common skill categories have been defined:
o Unskilled
o Semi-skilled
o Skilled
o Highly Skilled
• The minimum wages are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 443 points (Base Year 2001 = 100).
• Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) will be payable at ₹33.86 per point per month for every rise above 443 CPI points.
• The Commissioner of Labour will revise and notify the VDA every six months, effective April 01 and October 01 each year.
• The notification introduces 10 new employments, including:
o E-commerce and courier services
o Religious and social institutions
o Amusement and theme parks
o Mobile tower maintenance
o Handicrafts
o Bamboo and cane industries
o Borewell activities
o RMC units
o Aluminium and tin product units
o LPG storage and distribution agencies
• Minimum wages for certain labour-intensive and piece-rate sectors (such as brick kilns, garments, handlooms, spinning mills, tobacco, etc.) will be fixed separately through the Committee Method.
• Daily wages must be calculated by dividing monthly wages by 26 days, inclusive of weekly rest day wages.
• Trainees must be paid 75% of the applicable category wage, but not less than the minimum wage prescribed for unskilled workers.
• Employers must ensure equal wages for men, women, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities performing the same or similar work.
• Where existing notified wages are already higher than the revised rates, employers must provide an additional 10% enhancement over the existing wage rates.
• Employees working on weekly rest days or public holidays must be paid at double the normal wage rate.
• Overtime work beyond 8 hours per day must be compensated at twice the ordinary rate of wages.
• Wages must be paid through bank cheque or electronic transfer (NEFT/RTGS/IMPS) directly into employees' bank accounts.
• Principal employers are responsible for ensuring payment of minimum wages even where workers are engaged through contractors or service providers.
• Key Actionables for Employers: -
o Implement revised minimum wages from June 01, 2026.
o Review employee categorization (Unskilled/Semi-skilled/Skilled/Highly Skilled) as per Schedule III.
o Update payroll systems for the revised wage rates and VDA mechanism.
o Ensure equal pay compliance and contractor wage compliance.
o Verify whether the organization falls within any newly added employment categories.
o Ensure overtime, holiday wages, trainee wages, and electronic wage disbursement comply with the notification.
o Monitor future VDA notifications issued every April 01, and October 01, by the Commissioner of Labour.
The revised wage rates will come into effect from June 01, 2026.
[Notification No. G.O.Ms.No.6]
