Seven notifications issued by office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), issued in pursuance of Sub-Section (2) of Section 69 of the code on wages, 2019 (29 of 2019) on March 30, 2026.

Based on the orders issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment on March 30, 2026, the Variable Dearness Allowance (“VDA”) has been revised across seven key sectors -agriculture, mining, construction, loading/unloading, sweeping/cleaning, watch and ward, and stone mines. This adjustment is driven by an 11.28-point increase in the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers, which reached 424.80 by the end of 2025. All revised rates are mandated to take effect from April 1, 2026, and apply to workers across classified geographical areas A, B, and C.

In the Agriculture and Construction sectors, wages are categorized by skill level. Agricultural daily wages now range from INR 478 for unskilled workers to INR 694 for highly skilled workers. Construction and maintenance workers will see daily totals ranging from INR 556 in Area C for unskilled roles to a maximum of INR 1,094 in Area B for highly skilled personnel. In all instances, the VDA component has been rounded up to the next higher rupee following the Minimum Wages Advisory Board’s guidelines.

The Mining sector distinguishes between ground-level and underground operations. For general mines (such as iron ore and manganese), above-ground wages range from INR 556 to INR 964, while underground work which carries higher compensation ranges from INR 693 to INR 1,078 per day. Stone Mines operate on a piece-rate system, with excavation rates set at INR 1,113 and stone crushing rates varying by size, reaching up to INR 3,414 for specific dimensions per truckload.

For service-oriented roles including loading and unloading, sweeping and cleaning, and watch and ward (security), the daily wages are standardized by geographical area. Workers in loading and cleaning roles will receive INR 827 in area A, INR 693 in area B, and INR 556 in area C. Security personnel rates are further split by equipment; those without arms earn between INR 781 and INR 1,008, while those with arms receive higher daily wages ranging from INR 918 to INR 1,094.

These notifications, issued under the Code on Wages, 2019, ensure that the total minimum wage comprising both the basic rate and the updated VDA reflects current economic conditions. The Inspector-cum-Facilitator framework and randomized inspection systems under the broader labour codes remain the enforcement mechanism for these updates. These rates will stay in force until a subsequent order is issued by the Chief Labour Commissioner.