Compliance Requirements

1. Minimum Wages – Textile and Made-ups, Apparel and Footwear (Khand-A, Schedule A)

For workers employed in the textile and made-ups industry (Sl. No. 36(A)), apparel manufacturing from woven, knitted and technical textile fabric (Sl. No. 59(A)) and footwear manufacturing (Sl. No. 73), the VDA has been raised by ₹150 per month. For semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled workers the VDA is computed on 190 points above the CPI base of 241 (₹4,750 per month), and for unskilled workers on 178 points above a base of 253 (₹4,450 per month). Daily rates are derived by dividing the monthly wage by 26.

2. Minimum Wages – 67 Scheduled Employments (Khand-B, Schedule A)

For workers in the 67 scheduled employments under Part I of the Schedule, the VDA is computed on the 120-point rise in the CPI average from 311 to 431 at ₹25 per point, giving ₹3,000 per month (₹115.38 per day), an increase of ₹150 per month over the April–September 2026 VDA of ₹2,850. Daily rates are derived by dividing the monthly wage by 26.

3. Minimum Wages – Slate Pencil Manufactories (Schedule B)

For workers employed in slate pencil manufacturing, the notification prescribes occupation-wise rates, each carrying the same VDA of ₹3,000 per month:

4. Minimum Wages – Printing Presses (Schedule C)

For employees of printing presses, the notification prescribes grade-wise rates within the clerical, skilled and semi-skilled cadres, each carrying a VDA of ₹3,000 per month:

5. Minimum Wages – Daily-Wage Workers in State Government Departments (Schedule K)

For daily-wage workers and employees engaged in the various departments of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the monthly rates are the same as for the 67 scheduled employments, but the daily rate is derived by dividing the monthly wage by 30 (VDA of ₹100 per day) rather than 26.

6. Minimum Wages – Agricultural Employment (Schedule D)

For unskilled agricultural workers under Part II of the Schedule, the VDA is linked to the All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (1986-87=100). The January–June 2026 average of 1,335 is 13 points above the previous half-year average of 1,322; at ₹6 per point the VDA rises by ₹78 to ₹2,430 per month (405 points above the base of 930). The same rate applies to men and women, and the daily rate is derived by dividing the monthly wage by 30.

7. Minimum Wages – Bidi Rollers (Piece Rate, Schedule E)

Unlike the half-yearly revision for other employments, the VDA for bidi rollers is revised annually from April 1, based on the All-India CPI (1960=100) average for the preceding calendar year. The 2025 average of 9,568 is 2,838 points above the base of 6,730, which at one paisa per point gives a VDA of ₹28.38 per 1,000 bidis for the period April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Where a worker’s earnings in a week fall below ₹757.06 (the wage for 5,600 bidis), the employer must pay at least ₹757.06 for that week, provided the shortfall is not attributable to the worker or to circumstances beyond the employer’s control such as fire, calamity or epidemic.

The notification also prescribes separate piece rates for labelling and packing work (applying labels and wrappers to bidi bundles), each with a per-unit VDA; these should be read from the notification’s schedule for specific work assignments.

8. Minimum Wages – Time-Rated Employees in the Tobacco and Bidi Industry

For employees of tobacco manufacturing units (including bidi-making) who are paid on a daily or monthly basis, the VDA follows the half-yearly CPI (2001=100) revision and stands at ₹3,000 per month (₹115.38 per day) for the period October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027

9. Minimum Wages – Agarbatti Industry (Schedule F)

For agarbatti rollers, the VDA is computed at 25 paise per point on the 120-point rise over the CPI base of 311, giving ₹30.00 per 1,000 agarbattis rolled. Separate item-wise piece rates are prescribed for counting, wrapping, packeting and pungli-making work by pack weight and count, and these should be read from the notification’s schedule. Monthly-rated employees of agarbatti units — box makers, masala fillers, peons and chowkidars (₹12,575), typists, clerks, box fillers and masala weighers (₹13,571), and accountants, cashiers, godown keepers, mistris and drivers (₹15,294) — are paid at the corresponding unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled rates for the 67 scheduled employments.

10. General Conditions Applicable to the Revised Rates

The following conditions apply across the notifications:

• Rates apply from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027; bidi rollers’ piece rates apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The next VDA revision is due on 1 April 2027.
• Rates include remuneration for the weekly rest day under Section 13(1)(b) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
• Monthly wages are payable at month-end. Daily wages are calculated by dividing monthly wages by 26, or by 30 for agricultural workers and Schedule K Government daily-wage workers.
• Wages are rounded to the nearest rupee: 50 paise or more rounds up; less than 50 paise is dropped.
• Existing higher wages cannot be reduced. If basic wages plus VDA fall below the notified minimum, the difference must be paid.
• Earnings must meet at least the minimum time rate for an eight-hour day, six days a week, with one paid weekly holiday.
• Where work falls under multiple scheduled employments, the higher rate applies.
• Workers receive the rate applicable to occupations involving similar work.