Minimum wage in Kerala

₹176.00 per day¹

per dayGeneral rate since June 1, 2017 · set by India

Applies to: National Floor Level Minimum Wage (non-statutory, advisory floor for state minimum wages)

Next change

No scheduled increase on record.

11 rates in force

Rates by worker type, industry and employer size

The highest rate that fits the job applies.

Applies to	Rate	Effective
Shops establishments · Special Grade, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Category ‘C’ SHOPS, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, LODGES ETC. Special Grade Manager 9330.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Special Grade (manager). In force from the date of gazette publication (Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256, 24th December 2016, per the notification's last sentence). Dearness allowance at Rs. 26 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240, Rs. 200 special wage in municipality/corporation areas and service weightage are payable on top; the consolidated amount is not stated in the source. Verified September 26, 2026	₹9,330.00/ monthDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · Grade A, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Grade ‘A’ (1) Assistant Manager (Lodges) \ (2) Receptionist \| (3) Accountant/Clerk (4) Cashier \ (5) Fitter (Cycle dealer shops, repairing and hiring ) 9120.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Grade A (e.g. receptionist, accountant/clerk, cashier). In force from the date of gazette publication (Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256, 24th December 2016, per the notification's last sentence). Dearness allowance at Rs. 26 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240, Rs. 200 special wage in municipality/corporation areas and service weightage are payable on top; the consolidated amount is not stated in the source. Verified September 26, 2026	₹9,120.00/ monthDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · Grade B, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Grade ‘B’ (1) Glass Cutter (Glass and Photo framing shops) \ (2) Photo Framing worker \| (3) Auctioner (Vegetable shops) (4) Mobile Salesman/Running Salesman/Cycle Salesman (Sweet stalls/Ice-fruits and ) 8910.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Grade B (e.g. salesman, sweet maker, repairer, driver (lodges)). In force from the date of gazette publication (Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256, 24th December 2016, per the notification's last sentence). Dearness allowance at Rs. 26 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240, Rs. 200 special wage in municipality/corporation areas and service weightage are payable on top; the consolidated amount is not stated in the source. Verified September 26, 2026	₹8,910.00/ monthDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · Grade C, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Grade “C’ (1) General Worker (Grocery shops and parcel \ services) \| (2) Polisher (Automobile dealers shops) : (3) Roster Grinder (Coffee works) (4) Bottle Filler (Milk Dairy Products and Soft drinks manufacturing establishments) (5) Delivery man (Fuel Gas dealers shops) (6) Weighing man (Steel and Aluminium Vessels \| - shops) (7) Medicine Manufacturing Worker (Unskilled) (Ayurvedic vaidyasalas and Ayurvedic medical shops) (8) Marunnu Vettukaran (9) Dark room Assistant (Photo Studio) (10) Retoucher (Photo Studio) 8700.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Grade C (e.g. general worker, packer, delivery man). In force from the date of gazette publication (Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256, 24th December 2016, per the notification's last sentence). Dearness allowance at Rs. 26 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240, Rs. 200 special wage in municipality/corporation areas and service weightage are payable on top; the consolidated amount is not stated in the source. Verified September 26, 2026	₹8,700.00/ monthDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · Grade D, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) 5. Grade ‘D’ and book binding shops) (2) Filling and Packing man (Perfumery works) (1) Numbering man (Laundries and dry cleaners \ \| \| \| \| (3) Helper (Cycle dealers, cycle fitting and cycle \| repairing and hiring shops) (4) Gardener (Lodges) 8490.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Grade D (e.g. helper, gardener, watchman, cleaner (lodges)). In force from the date of gazette publication (Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256, 24th December 2016, per the notification's last sentence). Dearness allowance at Rs. 26 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240, Rs. 200 special wage in municipality/corporation areas and service weightage are payable on top; the consolidated amount is not stated in the source. Verified September 26, 2026	₹8,490.00/ monthDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · Grade E, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) 6. Grade ‘E* (1) Cleaner \ (2) Office Attender (3) Studio Attender (4) Messenger > 8280.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Grade E (cleaner, office attender, studio attender, messenger, sweeper). In force from the date of gazette publication (Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256, 24th December 2016, per the notification's last sentence). Dearness allowance at Rs. 26 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240, Rs. 200 special wage in municipality/corporation areas and service weightage are payable on top; the consolidated amount is not stated in the source. Verified September 26, 2026	₹8,280.00/ monthDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · daily rated Grade A, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Category ‘E’ DAILY RATED WORKERS Grades and Categories Daily Wage (@) (1) — Q) Grade ‘A’ (1) Sweet maker (Sweet stall) \ (2) Moulder (Copper and Brass vessels shops) \| (3) Highly skilled craftsman (Ivory, Horn, \| Handicrafts Article shops) (4) Works Supervisor (Tailoring, Readymade dresses \| and Embroidery works) \| (5) Cutter (Western style, Foreign Style, Indian Style \ Tailoring, Readymade dresses and 325.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Category E daily rated Grade A. In force from the gazette publication date, 24th December 2016. Dearness allowance at Re. 1 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240 is payable on top; not stated as an amount. Verified September 26, 2026	₹325.00/ dayDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · daily rated Grade B, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Grade ‘B’ (1) Amble mixer (Fertilizers and Chemicals shops) (2) Cutting, Weighing, Measuring Worker (Building \| and other construction material shops) (3) Blender (mixing man) (Tea merchants shops) 315.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Category E daily rated Grade B. In force from the gazette publication date, 24th December 2016. Dearness allowance at Re. 1 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240 is payable on top; not stated as an amount. Verified September 26, 2026	₹315.00/ dayDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · daily rated Grade C, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) 3. Grade ‘C (1) Hand Cart puller (Metal and other shops) \ (2) Flower maker (Flower shops) (3) Sales man (Fruits merchants shops) i (4) Assistant Sweet maker (Sweet stall) (5) Frying man (Sweet stall) (6) Peeling man (Meat and Fish Stall) (7) Dry cleaner (Laundries and Dry cleaners \ 305.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Category E daily rated Grade C. In force from the gazette publication date, 24th December 2016. Dearness allowance at Re. 1 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240 is payable on top; not stated as an amount. Verified September 26, 2026	₹305.00/ dayDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · daily rated Grade D, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Grade ‘D’ (1) Assistant Tailor (Tailoring Shops) \ (2) Out worker (Book binding shops) (3) Sorter (Gunny bags) (4) Packing man (Fruit merchant shops) > 295.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Category E daily rated Grade D. In force from the gazette publication date, 24th December 2016. Dearness allowance at Re. 1 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240 is payable on top; not stated as an amount. Verified September 26, 2026	₹295.00/ dayDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016
Shops establishments · daily rated Grade E, basic wage excluding dearness allowance Source: G.O. (P) No. 196/2016/LBR dated 21st December 2016, S.R.O. No. 785/2016, Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256 dated 24th December 2016 (Minimum Wages Act, 1948, s. 3(1)(b) read with s. 5(2)) Grade ‘E’ (1) Helper (Tailoring shops, Book Binding shops, \| Laundries and dry cleaners and furniture marts) , (2) Loading and unloading workers (Dry fish Merchants, Laundries and dry cleaners, Gunny bags, Oil merchants, General Merchants, Consumer Stores establishments ) etc.) 285.00 Source statute snapshot September 26, 2026 Notes Category E daily rated Grade E. In force from the gazette publication date, 24th December 2016. Dearness allowance at Re. 1 per point of the district CPI (1998-99=100) above 240 is payable on top; not stated as an amount. Verified September 26, 2026	₹285.00/ dayDecember 24, 2016	December 24, 2016

2 questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Kerala?

₹176.00 per day since June 1, 2017, set by India.

Is the minimum wage in Kerala increasing?

No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.

2 levels of law

How this rate is resolved

The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.

Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:

India
Kerala

Kerala sets 11 rules of its own.

Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources

Kerala fixes minimum wages separately for each of its roughly 80 scheduled employments by Government Order under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, by occupational grade rather than by skill band. For shops and commercial establishments the current order is G.O.(P) No. 196/2016/LBR (S.R.O. No. 785/2016, in force from its gazette publication on December 24, 2016), which fixes a monthly or daily basic wage per grade; employers add a dearness allowance computed from the Consumer Price Index of the district headquarters (1998-99=100) at Rs. 26 per point (monthly rated) or Re. 1 per point (daily rated) above 240 points, Rs. 200 a month extra in municipality and corporation areas, and service weightage. The consolidated amount therefore varies by district and is not published by the Labour Commissionerate; the dataset carries the notified basic wage. A draft revision (preliminary notification of February 3, 2026, with employer-size bands) was pending as of September 2026.

Kerala

Enforcement

Enforced by Labour Commissionerate, Government of Kerala.