Revised rates of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) and Minimum Wages wef 01.04.2026 for employees employed in loading and unloading in Railways, Docks and Ports

Revised rates of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) and Minimum Wages wef 01.04.2026 for employees employed in loading and unloading in Railways, Docks and Ports etc: Labour Commissioner order dated 30.03.2026

F.No.1/6(4)/2025- LS- II
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner(C)
New Delhi

Dated:30/03/2026

ORDER

In exercise of the powers conferred by Central Government vide Notification No. S.O. 192(E) dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment the undersigned hereby revises the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers reaching 424.80 from 413.52 as on 31.12.2025 (Base 2016=100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 11.28 points. The revised Variable Dearness Allowance as under shall be payable from 01.04.2026:-

The rates of Variable Dearness Allowance for employees employed in loading and unloading in (i) Goods sheds, Parcel Offices of Railways, (ii) Other Goods- Sheds, Go-downs, Warehouses and other similar employments; (iii) Docks and Ports; and (iv) Passengers and Goods and Cargo Carried out at Airports (both international and domestic).

Therefore, the minimum rates of wages including the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.04.2026 to the employees shall be as under:-

Therefore the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01.4.2026 shall be as under:-

The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board.

The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part- I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part- II of the notification dated 19th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, B & C is enclosed at Annexure I for ready reference.

The instant notification is being issued in pursuance of sub- section (2) of Section 69 of the Code on Wages, 2019 (29 of 2019) and shall remain in force till the corresponding order is issued in pursuance of sub- section (2) of section 7 of the said Code.

(Sonal Mishra)
Chief Labour Commissioner(C)

ANNEXURE

CLASSIFICATION OF AREAS

Note 1. Area ‘C’ shall comprise all areas not mentioned in this list but to which the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948) extends.

Note 2.-U.A. means Urban Agglomeration.

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