The Labour Commissioner, Odisha has raised the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) by Rs. 6 per day for all four skill categories, effective 1 October 2026. The daily minimum wage, including VDA, is now Rs. 478 for unskilled workers and Rs. 628 for highly skilled workers.
Date of Notification: 8 October 2026 Date of Applicability: 1 October 2026
This is the half-yearly VDA revision under the State’s 2024 minimum wage notification. That notification revised minimum wages for all scheduled employments from 18 July 2024, at basic rates of Rs. 450 (unskilled), Rs. 500 (semi-skilled), Rs. 550 (skilled) and Rs. 600 (highly skilled) per day.
Revised minimum wages from 1 October 2026
Category
Rate before 1.10.2026 (with VDA, in ₹)
VDA increase
(in ₹)
New daily rate (with VDA, , in ₹)
Indicative monthly
(× 26 days, in ₹)
Unskilled
472
6
478
12,428
Semi-skilled
522
6
528
13,728
Skilled
572
6
578
15,028
Highly skilled
622
6
628
16,328
Total VDA over the 2024 basic rates now stands at Rs. 28 a day, up from Rs. 22. For reference, the first VDA under the 2024 notification was Rs. 2 per day, from 1 October 2024.
The notification prescribes daily rates only. Under the 2024 notification, daily rates include wages for the weekly day of rest. The monthly figures above use the 26-day convention common in payroll practice and are indicative only.