This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers in the Plastic Industry in Karnataka, arranged by skill category. If you employ or work in a plastic moulding, extrusion, blow moulding or recycling unit in Karnataka, the rates below are the statutory minimum that must be paid.
Minimum wage rates for Plastic Industry in Karnataka
| Category of worker | Zone I | Zone II | Zone III | Zone IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Un-skilled | ₹620.66 | ₹599.43 | ₹579.22 | ₹559.97 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹665.22 | ₹641.88 | ₹619.65 | ₹598.47 |
| Skilled | ₹714.25 | ₹688.57 | ₹664.11 | ₹640.82 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹768.18 | ₹739.93 | ₹713.03 | ₹687.41 |
Rates effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
What counts as Plastic Industry
The Plastic Industry scheduled employment covers workers engaged in the manufacture, processing and finishing of plastic goods, including injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding and thermoforming of items such as pipes, films, sheets, bottles, containers and moulded components. It also extends to the grinding, recycling and reprocessing of plastic scrap and to the packing and dispatch of finished plastic products.
- Injection moulding units producing moulded plastic components, household articles and industrial parts
- Extrusion plants making PVC and HDPE pipes, sheets, profiles and films
- Blow moulding units manufacturing bottles, jars, cans and hollow containers
- Plastic packaging and film converting units, including pouch, bag and laminate making
- Plastic scrap grinding, recycling and reprocessing units
- Thermoforming units producing trays, cups, glasses and disposable ware
- Master batch, compounding and raw granule processing units
Typical roles and skill categories
- Injection moulding machine operator
- Extruder operator
- Blow moulding operator
- Mould and die setter
- Grinding and scrap sorting worker
- Quality inspector or checker
- Packing and dispatch worker
- Machine helper or material loader
- Line supervisor or shift in-charge
In this employment the unskilled category usually covers helpers, material loaders, scrap sorters and basic packing hands, while the semi-skilled category covers machine feeders and routine moulding or extrusion operators. Skilled rates apply to mould and die setters, experienced blow moulding and extruder operators and quality inspectors, and highly skilled rates apply to mould makers, maintenance technicians and line supervisors running complex or automated machinery.
Who fixes this wage
The Plastic Industry is a notified scheduled employment for which the Karnataka government fixes minimum wages by skill category, and in many cases by geographical zone or area classification. Every employer running a plastic manufacturing, moulding, extrusion or recycling unit in Karnataka is required to pay at least the applicable minimum wage for each category of worker.
How Karnataka sets minimum wages
Karnataka fixes minimum wages under its Shops and Commercial Establishments schedule, dividing the state into four zones numbered I to IV. Rates are set for four categories of worker and are kept current through a variable dearness allowance rather than a fresh base notification each period. The dearness-allowance revision applies from 1 April 2026 and runs through to 31 March 2027.
Common questions
What is the current minimum wage for Plastic Industry in Karnataka?
In Karnataka, the minimum wage for Plastic Industry currently runs from about ₹559.97 to ₹768.18 per day, depending on skill category and zone, effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. 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.
Do the Plastic Industry minimum wage rates apply to contract and piece-rate workers?
Yes. In Karnataka the notified minimum wage for the Plastic Industry applies to all workers in the covered unit, whether engaged directly, through a contractor, or on a piece-rate basis. A piece-rate worker's earnings must not fall below the equivalent time-rate minimum wage for the relevant skill category.
How is a plastic machine operator's skill category decided?
Skill category depends on the nature and responsibility of the work rather than the job title alone. A worker who only feeds material or assists at a machine is generally treated as unskilled or semi-skilled, while a worker who sets moulds, adjusts process parameters or independently runs an extrusion or blow moulding line is usually classified as skilled or highly skilled under the Karnataka schedule.
Are different rates payable in different areas of Karnataka for the Plastic Industry?
Often yes. Many states split the Plastic Industry minimum wage by zone or area classification, so a unit in a major industrial belt may fall under a different rate zone than one in a smaller town or rural area. Employers should confirm the zone applicable to their plant's location in Karnataka before fixing wages.
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