Minimum Wages (Basic) Revision – Karnataka – 220526

The Government of Karnataka, through a notification dated 22^nd May 2026, has announced the final rate of Minimum Wages applicable to various scheduled employments within the state, implementing a significant increase of 60% in the minimum wage rate.

In contrast to previous practices where distinct minimum wages were established for different schedules of employment, the Government has now instituted a uniform minimum wage rate applicable to all scheduled employments.

The notification includes five annexures, detailed as follows:

• Annexure-1 – 61 scheduled employments

• Annexure-2 – 4 scheduled employments

• Annexure-3 – 18 new scheduled employments

• Annexure-4 – Rate of minimum wages in scheduled employments under annexures 1 & 3

• Annexure-5 – Classification of various categories of employees.

The Minimum Wages set for different scheduled employments, such as Shops and Commercial Establishments, Hospitals, Security Agencies, etc., are outlined below:

Skill set	Zone -1		Zone -2		Zone -3
	Per day	Monthly	Per day	Monthly	Per day	Monthly
Highly skilled	1196.69	31114.02	1087.90	28285.47	989.00	25714.07
Skilled	1087.90	28285.47	989.00	25714.07	899.09	23376.43
Semi-skilled	989.00	25714.07	899.09	23376.43	817.35	21251.30
Unskilled	899.09	23376.43	817.35	21251.30	743.05	19319.36

The entire State of Karnataka has been divided into three zones, which are as follows:

Zone 1: Areas covered under the Greater Bengaluru Authority

Zone 2: Areas covered by other Mahanagar Palikas and also the District Headquarters

Zone 3: Areas other than those covered by Zone 1 and Zone 2

According to the notification, the revised minimum wage rates will take effect from the date of the notification, which is 22^nd May 2026. However, the Karnataka Employers Association has expressed the following opinion:

• The final notification dated 22.05.2026 has been issued by exercising powers under the repealed Minimum Wages Act (which was repealed by the Code on Wages, which has come into effect from 21.11.2025) and hence is without the authority of law.

• The notification is in violation of the order dated 28.07.2025 passed by the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka in WP 22771/2025, which held that “the order that would be passed by the meeting of the Advisory Board on 29.07.2025 or subsequently shall not be implemented till the next date of hearing”.

• The Code on Wages has abolished the concept of Scheduled Employment, whereas the notification dated 22.05.2026 is made applicable to 81 scheduled employments which do not exist in law.