How Karnataka sets this minimum wage
Karnataka fixes minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, separately for each scheduled employment. There is no single flat state-wide rate: the figure depends on the worker's employment, skill category and the zone where they work. Every wage is a basic wage plus a Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA).
The VDA is revised every year, effective 1 April, based on the state Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers. The basic rate changes only when a fresh notification is issued for that scheduled employment. The rates on this page apply for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Zones in Karnataka
- Zone I is the notified area of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), i.e. Bengaluru city.
- Zone II is the notified areas of all other City Corporations (Mahanagara Palikes) in the state.
- Zone III is all district headquarters not already in Zone I or Zone II.
- Zone IV is all other places in the state.
What employers must do
For general housekeeping supplied to shops and offices (dusting, mopping, pantry), use the Shops and Commercial Establishments un-skilled rate of about ₹620.66 per day in Zone I. For dedicated sanitation and toilet-cleaning work, use the Cleaning / Safai rate above, which is higher. Paying a sanitation worker the general un-skilled rate can under-pay them; always confirm which schedule the work falls under.
- Pay every worker at least the notified minimum for their skill category. Paying below it is an offence.
- Pay overtime at twice the ordinary rate for work beyond normal hours.
- Maintain a wage register, muster roll and wage slips, and pay within the wage period.
- Update payroll at each revision so no worker slips below the new minimum.
For contractors and staffing firms deploying housekeeping and cleaning staff across Karnataka, keeping every worker on the right schedule and skill rate by hand is error-prone. ZeniaHR payroll checks each worker's wage against the applicable state minimum automatically and handles the registers and PF/ESI returns. See also our facility management software and contract labour compliance guide.
Related calculators
Work out the deductions on a Karnataka wage with our free tools: the in-hand salary calculator, the PF calculator and the ESI calculator. Confirm the official rates on the Karnataka Labour Department minimum wages page.
Keep every worker on the right wage, automatically
ZeniaHR flags any worker paid below the applicable minimum wage and updates rates at each revision. Built only for manpower and staffing companies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage for housekeeping staff in Karnataka?
It depends on the work. Sanitation and toilet-cleaning staff fall under the Cleaning / Safai schedule at about ₹857.07 per day (≈ ₹22,283 per month) in Zone I. General office or shop housekeeping is usually paid the Shops un-skilled rate of about ₹620.66 per day in Zone I, effective 1 April 2026.
Is there a separate housekeeping schedule in Karnataka?
No. Karnataka has no dedicated housekeeping scheduled employment. Sanitation work uses the Cleaning / Safai Karmachari schedule; general cleaning uses the Shops and Commercial Establishments un-skilled rate or the schedule of the establishment where the worker is placed.
Do cleaning wages change by zone?
Yes. The Cleaning / Safai rate is highest in Zone I (BBMP / Bengaluru) at ₹857.07 per day and lower in Zones II to IV, down to ₹757.38 per day in Zone IV.
How often is the cleaning minimum wage revised?
The VDA part is revised each year, effective 1 April, based on the state Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers. The current rates apply for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.