Uttar Pradesh's order of 17 April 2026, effective 1 April 2026, sets monthly minimum wages for the 74 scheduled employments in three district categories: unskilled ₹13,690 in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad, ₹13,006 in other districts with a Nagar Nigam and ₹12,356 elsewhere; skilled ₹16,868, ₹16,025 and ₹15,224. Each is basic plus VDA.
Minimum wage rates in Uttar Pradesh (1 April 2026)
Order No. 374/36-2-2026-2041256 of 17 April 2026, effective from 1 April 2026, issued as interim relief under section 3(b) of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for employments where minimum wages are fixed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (74 scheduled employments). It supersedes the Labour Commissioner's order of 25 March 2026, except for piece-rated brick kilns. The order prints monthly rates only; no highly skilled category is given. No October 2026 revision was on uplabour.gov.in on 21 October 2026.
| Category | Cat I: Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad | Cat II: districts with a Nagar Nigam | Cat III: other districts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹12,885 + ₹805 = ₹13,690 | ₹12,241 + ₹765 = ₹13,006 | ₹11,629 + ₹727 = ₹12,356 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹14,173 + ₹886 = ₹15,059 | ₹13,464 + ₹842 = ₹14,306 | ₹12,791 + ₹799 = ₹13,590 |
| Skilled | ₹15,876 + ₹992 = ₹16,868 | ₹15,082 + ₹943 = ₹16,025 | ₹14,328 + ₹896 = ₹15,224 |
| Category | Cat I a day | Cat II a day | Cat III a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹526.54 | ₹500.23 | ₹475.23 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹579.19 | ₹550.23 | ₹522.69 |
| Skilled | ₹648.77 | ₹616.35 | ₹585.54 |
Figures in the first table are basic + VDA = total, a month, as printed. Daily figures are our arithmetic (monthly ÷ 26); the order does not print daily rates.
Zones and who is covered
Category I: Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) and Ghaziabad. Category II: districts having a Nagar Nigam. Category III: all other districts.
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 Noida (Category I) electronics assembler employs an unskilled helper; a sister unit in a Category III district employs another.
- Noida helper: at least ₹13,690 a month. ESI: employee ₹103, employer ₹445 (rounded up).
- Category III helper: at least ₹12,356 a month. ESI: employee ₹93, employer ₹402.
- The difference for the same job is ₹1,334 a month because of the district category.
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.