Karnataka hikes minimum wages by 60%: Check revised slabs in Bengaluru and other parts of the state

The Karnataka government has increased the minimum wages by 60%, according to a state government notification. Labour Minister Santosh Lad on Saturday described the move as “the fulfilment of a long-pending demand of the labour community across Karnataka.”

"Our government has issued a notification increasing the minimum wages of workers by 60 per cent. Through this, our government has fulfilled a long-pending demand of the labouring community in the state," Lad said in a post on 'X'.

He said the wage revision had been carried out in accordance with directions issued by the Supreme Court and marked a significant structural reform in the state's labour framework.

"This notification will provide economic security to workers in the unorganised sector and other specified sectors across the state. While determining the minimum wages, the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court Bench have been followed in carrying out this revision," he said.

The minister said the government had also replaced the earlier four-zone classification system with a unified notification covering all scheduled employments.

"Further, instead of the earlier classification into four zones, for the first time all scheduled employments have been brought under a single notification," he said.

According to Lad, the revised wage structure would directly benefit lakhs of workers employed in 81 scheduled occupations across Karnataka.

The minister thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar, Cabinet colleagues and experts for supporting the Labour Department's decision.