Kerala Raises Minimum Wages, Boosts Pay for Agricultural & Dairy Workers

The Kerala government has significantly revised and increased minimum wages for agricultural and dairy workers, including milkmen and related roles, marking the first update since 2017 and expanding labour protections under the Minimum Wages Act. This move is aimed at improving livelihoods for frontline workers in farming and dairy production sectors across the state.

Under the new structure, daily wages for hard agricultural labour such as digging, loading and bund work have been raised to ₹830 from ₹490, while light agricultural work now earns ₹710 from ₹410 per day. Tractor and tiller operators will receive ₹170 per hour (up from ₹110) and mechanised sawing labourers ₹160 per hour (up from ₹100).

In the dairy sector, wages for milking work done twice a day have increased to ₹850 from ₹505, and milking combined with other duties now commands ₹940 from ₹570, reflecting a substantial enhancement in income for dairy workers who form the backbone of milk production systems in the state. Sire bull caretakers are also remunerated at ₹940 (from ₹570) under the new regime.

Additional revisions include ₹810 (from ₹480) for cattle feeding and cowshed work, ₹730 (from ₹420) for unskilled nursery duties, and ₹830 (from ₹490) for skilled tasks. Piece-rate work such as soil-filled cover handling and dung collection now earns set rates of ₹1 per cover (50 paise earlier) and ₹20 per kg (₹12 earlier) respectively.

The updated wage rates are based on an eight-hour workday and reflect Kerala’s effort to ensure fair compensation for labour that supports both agriculture and dairy value chains, addressing long-standing demands from workers for wage improvements in the context of rising input costs and cost of living pressures.

Source : Dairynews7x7 Jan 2nd 2026 Mathrubhumi