Minimum wage in Kerala
A skilled worker in Kerala must be paid at least ₹14,934 a month in Basic + DA, effective 01-Apr-2026. Derived / mapped – check Basis: Shops & Commercial Est., Thiruvananthapuram (general).
Minimum wage and lowest compliant CTC
| Category | Minimum wage (Basic + DA) | Lowest compliant CTC | Full-load CTC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹14,304 | ₹16,535 | ₹19,706 | Price a CTC |
| Semi-skilled | ₹14,514 | ₹16,778 | ₹19,995 | Price a CTC |
| Skilled | ₹14,934 | ₹17,262 | ₹20,572 | Price a CTC |
| Highly Skilled | ₹15,354 | ₹17,746 | ₹21,149 | Price a CTC |
Lowest compliant CTC is the minimum wage plus employer PF, employer ESIC where wages (Basic + DA) are ₹21,000 or less, and labour welfare fund. Full-load CTC adds leave, holidays, bonus, gratuity and EDLI. Rates are monthly, on a 26-day basis. Checked 7 October 2026.
Professional tax in Kerala
Deducted from the employee's gross each month.
| Monthly gross above | Up to | Applies to | Tax a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹1,999.83 | ₹2,999.83 | All | ₹20 |
| ₹2,999.83 | ₹4,999.83 | All | ₹30 |
| ₹4,999.83 | ₹7,499.83 | All | ₹50 |
| ₹7,499.83 | ₹9,999.83 | All | ₹75 |
| ₹9,999.83 | ₹12,499.83 | All | ₹100 |
| ₹12,499.83 | ₹16,666.50 | All | ₹125 |
| ₹16,666.50 | ₹20,833.17 | All | ₹166.67 |
| ₹20,833.17 | No upper limit | All | ₹208.33 |
Labour welfare fund
Charged only in the months listed. Both shares are paid in that month.
| Month charged | Employee | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| All | ₹50 | ₹50 |
Leave and holidays
Used when you price leave and holiday cover into the monthly rate.
| Earned leave (minimum) | 12 days a year |
|---|---|
| Sick leave | 12 days |
| Casual leave | 12 days |
| National and festival holidays | 13 days used for costing 4 days - 26th Jan, 15th Aug, 1st May, and 2nd Oct and 9 other festival holidays |
| Working on a holiday | Double the Wages & Comp Off |
| Source | Section 13 & 13A |
Questions about Kerala
What is the minimum wage for a skilled worker in Kerala?
₹14,934 a month (Basic + DA), effective 01-Apr-2026, for Shops & Commercial Est., Thiruvananthapuram (general). Status: Derived / mapped – check.
What is the lowest legal CTC for a skilled worker in Kerala?
On a lean costing basis, about ₹17,262 a month: the minimum wage plus employer PF, employer ESIC and labour welfare fund. With leave, holidays, bonus, gratuity and EDLI priced in, about ₹20,572.
When does the minimum wage in Kerala change?
Revision cycle: Yearly. Check the state labour department for a new notification after each cycle date.
Other states
Andhra Pradesh · Arunachal Pradesh · Assam · Bihar · Chhattisgarh · Goa · Gujarat · Haryana · Himachal Pradesh · Jharkhand · Karnataka · Madhya Pradesh · Maharashtra · Manipur · Meghalaya · Mizoram · Nagaland · Odisha · Punjab · Rajasthan · Sikkim · Tamil Nadu · Telangana · Tripura · Uttar Pradesh · Uttarakhand · West Bengal · Andaman & Nicobar · Chandigarh · Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu · Delhi · Jammu & Kashmir · Ladakh · Lakshadweep · Puducherry · Central Sphere