The Labour Bureau, Chandigarh, Ministry of Labour & Employment, vide File No. 6/1/2026-VDA dated 30 September 2026, has issued orders revising the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) and minimum wages for scheduled employments in the Central Sphere with effect from 1 October 2026. The revision has been made with reference to the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW), which increased from 424.80 to 431.42 as on 30 June 2026, and is issued under Section 69(2) of the Code on Wages, 2019. The revised rates cover scheduled employments including agriculture, mining, construction, stone mines, sweeping and cleaning, watch and ward, and loading and unloading, with VDA rounded off to the next higher rupee. Employers and other stakeholders are advised to refer to the official order for the complete category-wise VDA and minimum wage rates applicable from 1 October 2026.