Central Sphere VDA Revision w.e.f. 1 October 2026 — Revised Minimum Wages

The Labour Bureau, Chandigarh has revised Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for central sphere scheduled employments with effect from 1 October 2026. The revision follows a 6.62-point rise in the average CPI-IW (base 2016=100), from 424.80 to 431.42 as on 30 June 2026.

These are central sphere rates — they apply where the Central Government is the appropriate government (e.g. central PSUs, railways, mines, major ports, airports). They are not Punjab state minimum wages, even though the order is issued from Chandigarh.

Revised rates by scheduled employment

All figures are per day, in rupees, shown as Basic + VDA = Total minimum wage payable from 1 October 2026.

1. Agriculture

Worker classification: Part I of S.O. 186(E) dated 19 January 2017.

2. Mines (non-coal)

Covers gypsum, barytes, bauxite, manganese, china clay, kyanite, copper, clay, magnesite, white clay, stone, steatite (incl. soapstone and talc), ochre, asbestos, fire clay, chromite, quartzite, quartz, silica, graphite, felspar, laterite, dolomite, red oxide, wolfram, iron ore, granite, rock phosphate, hematite, marble and calcite, uranium, mica, lignite, gravel, slate and magnetite mines. Rates are uniform across areas.

Worker classification: S.O. 187(E) dated 19 January 2017, as amended by S.O. 2413(E) dated 28 July 2017.

3. Construction and maintenance

Covers construction or maintenance of roads, runways and building operations, including laying underground electric, wireless, radio, TV, telephone, telegraph and overseas communication cables, electric lines, water supply lines and sewerage pipelines.

Worker classification: Part I of S.O. 188(E) dated 19 January 2017.

4. Stone mines (piece rates)

* Per 2.831 cubic metres (100 cubic feet), with 50 m lead / 1.5 m lift. ** Per truck load of 5.662 cubic metres (200 cubic feet).

Workers on a minimum guaranteed daily time rate are entitled to the time rate for unskilled above-ground workers in stone mines, plus special allowance, if any. Detailed classification: S.O. 189(E) dated 19 January 2017.

5. Sweeping, cleaning, watch & ward, and loading & unloading

Sweeping and cleaning excludes activities prohibited under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993. Loading and unloading covers railway goods sheds and parcel offices, other goods sheds, godowns and warehouses, docks and ports, and passengers, goods and cargo at airports (international and domestic).

Worker classification: S.O. 190(E) (sweeping & cleaning), S.O. 191(E) (watch & ward) and S.O. 192(E) (loading & unloading), all dated 19 January 2017.

Area classification

Cities are classified as in Part II of the notification dated 19 January 2017, reproduced as Annexure I to the orders. UA = Urban Agglomeration; M. Corpn = Municipal Corporation.

For Punjab readers: Amritsar, Jalandhar, Jalandhar-Cantt. and Ludhiana are Area B; Chandigarh and Panchkula are also Area B. The rest of Punjab falls in Area C.

Please find attached the official notification:

Ministry of Labour – Rates of Variable Dearness Allowance – 1.10.2026