This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers in Rice, Flour and Dal Mills in Karnataka. Use it to check the rate that applies to millers, machine operators, loaders, packers and support staff across rice, flour and dal milling establishments in Karnataka.
Minimum wage rates for Rice, Flour and Dal Mills 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 Rice, Flour and Dal Mills
Rice, Flour and Dal Mills is a notified scheduled employment covering establishments that clean, process, mill and pack food grains and pulses, including paddy dehusking and polishing, wheat and grain grinding into flour, and the splitting and dehulling of dals. It applies to the workers engaged in and around these milling operations, from grain intake to finished bagging.
- Rice mills and paddy processing units, including parboiling and drying yards
- Roller flour mills and atta chakki units grinding wheat and other grains
- Dal mills and pulse processing units that split, dehull and polish pulses
- Grain cleaning, grading and sorting units attached to mills
- Godowns and warehouses handling raw grain and milled stock
- Bagging, packing and dispatch sections within a milling premises
Typical roles and skill categories
- Grain and paddy loaders and unloaders
- Mill helpers and cleaning or sweeping staff
- Huller, sheller and polisher machine operators
- Roller mill and chakki operators
- Boiler and parboiling section attendants
- Grading, sorting and quality checking staff
- Weighing clerks and packing or bagging workers
- Fitters, electricians and maintenance mechanics
- Mill supervisors and shift in-charge
In milling work, unskilled usually covers loaders, packers, cleaners and general helpers, while semi-skilled typically covers machine operators such as huller, polisher and grading hands and boiler attendants. Skilled generally maps to roller mill operators, certified boiler operators, fitters and electricians, and highly-skilled to mill supervisors, quality or lab technicians and senior maintenance staff.
Who fixes this wage
Rice, Flour and Dal Mills is a notified scheduled employment for which the Karnataka government fixes minimum wages by skill category, commonly split as unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly-skilled. The applicable rate can also vary by zone or area classification within Karnataka.
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 Rice, Flour and Dal Mills in Karnataka?
In Karnataka, the minimum wage for Rice, Flour and Dal Mills 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.
Does the minimum wage differ for a rice mill worker compared with a flour mill or dal mill worker in Karnataka?
No. Rice, flour and dal milling are treated as one scheduled employment, so the wage is set by the worker's skill category and applicable zone in Karnataka, not by the type of grain or pulse being milled.
How are boiler operators, fitters and mill electricians classified in this employment?
These maintenance and operating roles usually sit in the higher skill categories, skilled or highly-skilled, because they involve running or servicing plant and machinery rather than general handling. The exact category follows the skill definitions notified for Karnataka.
Are seasonal and temporary paddy-season workers in a mill covered by the minimum wage?
Yes. Workers engaged during peak paddy or grain season, including temporary, casual and piece-rate hands, are covered, and their earnings should not fall below the applicable minimum wage for their skill category in Karnataka.
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