INTRODUCTION
The Government of Karnataka's notification dated 22 May 2026 revising minimum wages across the State has generated significant attention among employers, industry bodies, and labour law practitioners. While the notification aims to enhance worker welfare and establish a more streamlined and uniform wage structure, it has also given rise to important legal and practical concerns. In several categories, the revised rates reflect increases of nearly 60%, resulting in a substantial rise in labour costs for businesses across sectors. Further, as the notification has been issued after the Code on Wages, 2019 came into force, questions have emerged regarding the applicable legal framework and the validity of the revision process adopted by the State Government. Consequently, employers are now required to navigate not only complex compliance obligations but also a degree of uncertainty surrounding the notification's legal standing.
