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PB State Verified

Minimum Wages in Punjab May 2026 onward

Punjab single uniform rate across the state. Four skill levels, consolidated wage, staff A to D categories.

Source: Punjab Labour Department. Revised on CPI movement.

Wage Range / Month

Rs 13,486 to Rs 16,601

Across 4 skill levels | Single uniform rate, no zones

Effective

May 2026 onward

Zones

Uniform rate

Notified Rates

Complete Rate Card: All Skill Levels

Single uniform Punjab rate. Monthly, daily (26 days), hourly (8 hours). Source: Punjab Labour Department, effective May 2026.

Skill Level Monthly Daily (26) Hourly (8)
Unskilled
Peon, Helper, Cleaner, Loader, Guard		 Rs 13,486 Rs 519 Rs 65
Semi-Skilled
Store keeper, Driver, Operator assistant		 Rs 14,383 Rs 553 Rs 69
Skilled
Electrician, Cashier, Mechanic, Technician		 Rs 15,414 Rs 593 Rs 74
Highly Skilled
Supervisor, Senior technician, Manager		 Rs 16,601 Rs 639 Rs 80

Office staff categories A (post-graduate) to D (Class IV) carry separate notified rates. Check the source notification for staff figures.

Employer Cost Guide

True Cost of 1 Minimum-Wage Worker in Punjab

Statutory add-ons on top of Rs 13,486 Unskilled base. Punjab Unskilled gross stays under Rs 21,000, so ESI applies.

Gross monthly wage
Floor per worker		 Rs 13,486
Employer EPF (12 percent of Basic + DA)
EPF Act 1952, Section 6		 Rs 1,618
Employer ESI (3.25 percent)
ESI Act 1948		 Rs 438
Statutory bonus (8.33 percent)
Payment of Bonus Act 1965, Section 10		 Rs 1,123
Gratuity provisioning (4.81 percent)
Payment of Gratuity Act 1972		 Rs 649
Total employer cost per worker / month Rs 17,314
Compliance Checklist

4 Things Every Punjab Employer Must Do

01

Pay at or above the notified rate

Apply the full notified Punjab rate per skill level and staff category. Update payroll from each effective date. Pay arrears from the effective date if the notification publishes late.

02

Maintain statutory registers

Keep Muster Roll, Wage Register, Deductions and Overtime registers under the Punjab Minimum Wages Rules. Preserve records for 3 years.

03

Pay within the wage cycle

Wages payable by 7th of next month (under 1,000 workers) or 10th (1,000 plus) under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936. Overtime at twice the ordinary rate under Section 14.

04

Display the wage notice

Post the current Punjab minimum wage notice in Punjabi and English at the workplace within 30 days of revision.

Category Guide

Which Skill Category Does Your Worker Fall Under?

Punjab notifies 4 skill levels plus separate staff categories A to D.

Unskilled

Peon, Helper, Cleaner, Loader, Guard

Semi-Skilled

Store keeper, Driver, Operator assistant

Skilled

Electrician, Cashier, Mechanic, Technician

Highly Skilled

Supervisor, Senior technician, Manager

Penalty

Cost of Underpayment in Punjab

Section 22 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 applies. The Punjab Labour Department inspects manufacturing, retail, and construction units across Ludhiana and Amritsar.

Fine up to Rs 1 lakh per offence
Imprisonment up to 5 years, or both
Arrears + compensation up to 10x the shortfall
Continuing offence: extra daily fine

High-Risk Punjab Sectors

  • Hosiery and textiles (Ludhiana)
  • Sports and surgical goods (Jalandhar)
  • Agriculture and food processing
  • Retail and hospitality (Amritsar)
  • Security and housekeeping

Run a payslip audit at every revision to catch underpayment early.

Revision History

Punjab Wage Trend (Unskilled)

Consolidated unskilled monthly rate, latest first.

Period Unskilled / Month Change
May 2026 onwardCURRENT Rs 13,486 Current
Nov 2025 - Apr 2026 Rs 13,128 Revised up
May 2025 - Oct 2025 Rs 12,790 +2.6%

Earlier-period figures are indicative. Confirm exact prior amounts against the matching Punjab notification.

factoHR India

Auto-apply Punjab wages on every payslip

factoHR India tracks every Punjab notification, applies the consolidated rate per skill and staff category, and flags any payslip below the floor wage.

Book a Demo

CPI revision auto-update

Skill + staff aware

Floor wage guardrail

Register-ready

Other State Wage Pages

HR Haryana DL Delhi RJ Rajasthan UP Uttar Pradesh MH Maharashtra KA Karnataka
FAQ

Punjab Minimum Wages FAQ

What is the minimum wage in Punjab 2026?
Punjab minimum wages effective 1 May 2026 are Rs 13,486 per month for Unskilled, Rs 14,383 for Semi-Skilled, Rs 15,414 for Skilled, and Rs 16,601 for Highly Skilled workers. Punjab applies one uniform rate across the state with no zone classification.
Does Punjab notify separate rates for office staff?
Yes. Apart from the four skill levels, Punjab notifies staff categories A to D for administrative and office roles by qualification. Category A (post-graduate or professional) carries the highest rate, Category D (Class IV) the lowest. Check the source notification for staff figures.
Does Punjab use economic zones for minimum wages?
No. Punjab notifies a single uniform minimum wage across the entire state. There is no Zone A, B, or C split. The same rate applies in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and rural districts alike.
How often does Punjab revise minimum wages?
Punjab revises minimum wages based on movement in the Consumer Price Index compiled by the Labour Bureau. Revisions usually take effect twice a year. Apply the new rate from the effective date and pay arrears if the notification publishes late.
How does factoHR India automate Punjab minimum wage payroll?
factoHR India tracks every Punjab notification, applies the consolidated rate per skill level, flags any payslip below the floor, and maintains statutory registers under the Punjab Minimum Wages Rules. It also handles the staff A to D categories.

Run Punjab Payroll Without Spreadsheets

factoHR India auto-applies the latest Punjab wages per worker. No missed CPI revision cycles.

Book a Demo All 36 States

If you employ staff in Punjab, the same workforce is also covered by working-hour and overtime rules in Punjab, Labour Welfare Fund rates in Punjab, and the public holiday calendar for Punjab. Keep every Punjab statutory obligation aligned across your payroll.