Punjab's notification of 1 May 2026 under the Code on Wages fixes basic minimum wages for all employments in the State: ₹13,486 a month for unskilled, ₹14,383 semi-skilled, ₹15,414 skilled and ₹16,601 highly skilled workers, and ₹14,406 to ₹19,431 for staff categories D to A. Daily rates are the monthly rate divided by 26.
Minimum wage rates in Punjab (1 May 2026)
Notification No. Labour-Lab0MIWA/1/2021-4L (260032)/166 of 1 May 2026, issued under section 8(3) of the Code on Wages, 2019 and published in the Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary) the same day. It applies to all employments in the State (brick kilns are notified separately). The rates are basic rates and cannot be split into allowances; the notification provides for full CPI neutralisation as prescribed. The daily rate is monthly ÷ 26, and for deductions monthly ÷ 30.
| Category | Per month | Per day | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹13,486 | ₹518.69 | ₹64.83 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹14,383 | ₹553.19 | ₹69.14 |
| Skilled | ₹15,414 | ₹592.84 | ₹74.10 |
| Highly skilled | ₹16,601 | ₹638.50 | ₹79.81 |
| Staff Category A | ₹19,431 | ₹747.34 | ₹93.41 |
| Staff Category B | ₹17,510 | ₹673.46 | ₹84.18 |
| Staff Category C | ₹15,786 | ₹607.15 | ₹75.89 |
| Staff Category D | ₹14,406 | ₹554.07 | ₹69.25 |
Zones and who is covered
One rate applies across the State.
Minimum wages apply to every employee, whether paid monthly, daily or by the hour, permanent, temporary or through a contractor. Under the Code on Wages, 2019 the employer must pay at least the notified rate for the category and area. If you use a contractor, check that contract workers are paid at least the same rates.
Worked example
A Ludhiana hosiery unit pays an unskilled helper the minimum ₹13,486 a month. In November 2026 the helper takes two days' unpaid leave.
- Deduction for absence uses monthly ÷ 30: ₹13,486 ÷ 30 × 2 = ₹899.07.
- Wages for the month: ₹12,586.93.
- ESI on the full-month wage of ₹13,486: employee 0.75% = ₹102 and employer 3.25% = ₹439 (rounded up).
Because these are basic rates, PF is due on the whole ₹13,486: ₹1,618 from each side.
Compliance checklist for employers
- Classify every employee in the notification's categories (unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, highly skilled or the staff grades) based on the actual work, not the job title alone.
- Compare gross wages for normal hours with the rate for the employee's zone, before PF, ESI and other deductions.
- Revise payroll from the first day of each new rate or VDA period and pay arrears for any period already paid at the old rate.
- Pay overtime at twice the ordinary rate for work beyond normal hours, as the Code on Wages requires.
- Keep wage registers and payslips that show the rate, days worked and deductions.
Minimum wage revisions move PF and ESI too: PF is 12% of wages up to ₹25,000, and ESI applies while gross wages are within ₹21,000 a month.
Keep payroll in step with each revision
Check take-home pay with the salary calculator, the employer and employee shares with the PF calculator and ESI calculator, and show every deduction clearly using the salary slip format. FundRaksha HR turns attendance and leave into paid days, calculates salary with PF, ESI, professional tax and TDS, and issues payslip PDFs, so a VDA revision is a rate change in one place rather than in every row of a spreadsheet.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-10-21. Information for Indian businesses; not legal advice.