This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers in Construction and Building Works in Jammu and Kashmir, set out by skill category and, where notified, by zone. Whether you run a site or work on one, you can read the latest applicable rates for Jammu and Kashmir below.
Minimum wage rates for Construction and Building Works in Jammu and Kashmir
| Category of worker | Per day | Per month (26 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹311 | ₹8,086 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹400 | ₹10,400 |
| Skilled | ₹483 | ₹12,558 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹552 | ₹14,352 |
| Administrative / ministerial / accounts | ₹449 | ₹11,674 |
Rates effective 17 October 2022.
What counts as Construction and Building Works
Construction and Building Works covers labour engaged in the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance or demolition of buildings, roads, bridges, dams, canals and other civil structures, including tasks such as excavation, masonry, concreting, bar bending, shuttering, plastering, tiling and finishing. It also extends to allied site activities like scaffolding, waterproofing, centering and general site preparation.
- Residential and commercial building construction sites
- Road, highway, flyover and bridge construction projects
- Infrastructure works such as dams, canals and irrigation projects
- Real estate and township development sites
- Government public works and municipal construction sites
- Industrial plant, warehouse and factory construction sites
- Contractor and sub-contractor field operations at project locations
Typical roles and skill categories
- Unskilled helper or beldar (mazdoor)
- Mason (raj mistri)
- Bar bender and steel fixer
- Shuttering and centering carpenter
- Plumber and pipe fitter
- Site electrician
- Painter and plasterer
- Crane and heavy equipment operator
- Site supervisor or foreman
In Construction and Building Works, unskilled generally covers helpers, beldars and load carriers, semi-skilled covers those assisting tradesmen such as mason helpers and bar bending helpers, while skilled covers masons, carpenters, bar benders, plumbers and electricians. Highly skilled typically covers specialised operators and technicians such as crane operators, surveyors and workers handling complex structural or finishing work.
Who fixes this wage
Construction and Building Works is a notified scheduled employment under minimum wage law, for which the Jammu and Kashmir government fixes minimum wages by skill category: unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled. Rates are commonly notified separately by geographical zone or area class, so the applicable figure depends on both the worker's skill grade and the location of the site.
How Jammu and Kashmir sets minimum wages
Jammu and Kashmir operates one statewide schedule without zonal divisions, setting rates for five categories of worker as both a daily amount and a monthly amount on a 26-day basis. Unlike states on a half-yearly cycle, its rates have stood since taking effect on 17 October 2022 and are not adjusted through a variable dearness allowance. Any change here comes through a fresh notification rather than automatic indexation.
Common questions
What is the current minimum wage for Construction and Building Works in Jammu and Kashmir?
In Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum wage for Construction and Building Works currently runs from about ₹311 to ₹552 per day and ₹8086 to ₹14352 per month, depending on skill category and zone, effective 17 October 2022. The exact figure by category is in the table below. Confirm the exact rate for your worker's skill category and zone in the table above, and against the latest official notification.
Does the minimum wage for Construction and Building Works apply to workers hired through a labour contractor in Jammu and Kashmir?
Yes. The notified minimum wage applies to construction workers whether they are engaged directly or through a contractor or sub-contractor. The principal employer remains responsible for ensuring that contract labour on the site is paid at least the rate fixed for their skill category in Jammu and Kashmir.
How do I decide which skill category a construction worker falls into?
Classification depends on the work actually performed, not the job title alone. A worker doing masonry, carpentry, bar bending, plumbing or electrical work is usually treated as skilled, a worker assisting those trades as semi-skilled, and a general labourer or load carrier as unskilled; specialised operator or technician duties attract the highly skilled rate.
Do zone or area differences affect the construction minimum wage in Jammu and Kashmir?
Yes. Jammu and Kashmir commonly fixes construction rates by geographical zone or area class, so the same skill category can carry a different rate depending on whether the site lies in a metropolitan, urban or rural area. Employers should apply the rate notified for the zone in which the construction site is located.
Never underpay in Jammu and Kashmir
ZeniaHR maps every worker to the correct minimum-wage notification by state, skill and zone, and flags anyone paid below it.
Book a demo