Status
Mandatory for All Employers
Effective Period
1 January 2026 - 30 June 2026
Notification
No. 07/Stat/...JLC · 9 Jan 2026
Issued by the Office of the Labour Commissioner, Government of West Bengal. Applies to every employer registered under Shops & Establishments in West Bengal. Non-compliance attracts penalty under the Code on Wages, 2019.
Minimum Wages in West Bengal
2026 — Zone-Wise Rates
Official minimum wage rates for West Bengal across two zones. West Bengal notifies a single consolidated wage (Basic + VDA merged), revised every January and July. The current cycle is effective 1 January 2026.
Quick Answer
West Bengal’s minimum wages range from ₹9,760/month (Unskilled, Zone B) to ₹13,825/month (Highly-skilled, Zone A / Kolkata). Effective 1 January 2026, revised half-yearly.
₹9,760 - ₹13,825
per month · Shops & Establishments
Consolidated
Basic + VDANext revision
1 July 2026Last updated: June 2026. Figures are compiled from the latest available notifications and reputable compliance sources and are provided for guidance only. Minimum wages and VDA change frequently - verify against the official notification (West Bengal Labour Commissionerate) before using for payroll.
Complete Rate Card - Zone A & Zone B
West Bengal Shops & Establishments - consolidated monthly minimum wage by skill and zone, effective 1 January 2026.
| Skill Category | Zone A (per month) | Zone B (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹10,386 | ₹9,760 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹11,426 | ₹10,733 |
| Skilled | ₹12,569 | ₹11,807 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹13,825 | ₹12,990 |
Consolidated all-inclusive monthly rates (Basic + VDA merged), effective 1 Jan 2026 and revised every January and July. Daily wage ≈ monthly ÷ 26 (e.g. Zone A Unskilled ≈ ₹399/day). A 1 July 2026 revision is due. Verify against the official PDF on wblc.gov.in.
West Bengal Minimum Wage Zones
West Bengal uses two zones.
Zone A — Urban
Areas under Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Notified Areas, Development Authorities and thermal-power-plant townships - including Kolkata, Howrah, Asansol, Durgapur and Siliguri.
Zone B — Rest of State
All remaining (predominantly rural / non-municipal) areas of West Bengal.
What Every West Bengal Employer Must Do
Pay at least the notified zone-wise rate
Use the rate matching each branch’s location - not the head-office zone. Paying below the notified minimum is illegal even if the employee agrees.
Apply the latest VDA / revised rate
Update payroll the moment a new notification or VDA revision is published. Arrears apply from the effective date, not the date you noticed.
Maintain wage & attendance registers
Keep statutory registers, wage slips and muster rolls. Inspectors can demand records for the past several years.
Layer statutory costs correctly
On top of minimum wage, account for PF (12% of basic), ESI (3.25% if wage ≤ ₹21,000), bonus and gratuity provision.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Under the Code on Wages, 2019 (in force across India from 21 November 2025), paying any worker below the notified minimum wage attracts a fine up to ₹50,000 for a first offence, and imprisonment up to 3 months or a fine up to ₹1,00,000 (or both) for a repeat offence within five years. The employer must also pay the full wage arrears due. Failing to maintain the prescribed wage and attendance registers carries a further fine up to ₹10,000. The West Bengal Labour Department enforces this through Inspector-cum-Facilitator inspections across Kolkata's manufacturing, retail, jute and hospitality establishments, so West Bengal employers should keep payroll and statutory registers audit-ready year-round.
Source: Code on Wages, 2019 (Act 29 of 2019), Sec. 54 · West Bengal Labour Commissionerate
Download the West Bengal Minimum Wages 2026 Rate Card
Get the full PDF - all zones, every role band, VDA breakdown and an employer compliance checklist. Free, ready for your HR & payroll records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in West Bengal in 2026?
For Shops & Establishments (effective 1 January 2026), rates range from Rs.9,760/month (Unskilled, Zone B) to Rs.13,825/month (Highly-skilled, Zone A / Kolkata).
Which zone does Kolkata fall under?
Zone A - the higher-wage zone, covering municipal corporation, municipality and notified urban areas.
How often are West Bengal minimum wages revised?
Half-yearly - the consolidated wage is revised on 1 January and 1 July each year, indexed to CPI. The next revision is due 1 July 2026.
Does West Bengal show Basic and VDA separately?
No. West Bengal notifies a single consolidated (all-inclusive) minimum wage, so Basic and VDA are merged into one figure.
What is the penalty for paying below minimum wage?
Paying below the notified minimum is illegal even with the employee's consent. Under the Code on Wages, 2019 employers face fines up to Rs.50,000 (first offence) and up to Rs.1,00,000 with imprisonment for repeat offences, plus full wage arrears.
Does minimum wage include PF and ESI?
No. Minimum wage is the gross amount paid to the worker. On top of it the employer pays PF (12% of basic), ESI (3.25% of gross if wage is up to Rs.21,000), statutory bonus and a gratuity provision.
Explore Minimum Wages Across India
Minimum wages differ by state, zone, skill and industry. Compare West Bengal with other states, or see the full national overview.
Stop tracking minimum wage changes in spreadsheets
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