SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a committee to comprehensively review the existing wage structure for artisans and weavers and recommend amendments to the minimum wage framework, including the inclusion and classification of notified handicraft and handloom crafts.
The committee was constituted under Government Order No. 1459-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated September 1, 2026, issued by the General Administration Department.
The Administrative Secretary of the Industries and Commerce Department will chair the committee, which includes the Labour Commissioner, JK; Directors of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir/Jammu; Managing Director, JK Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation; Additional Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department; a representative of the Labour and Employment Department; two representatives of recognised artisan and weaver communities; and representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Jammu and Kashmir with expertise in handicrafts and handlooms.
The Chairperson has been authorised to co-opt additional members or technical experts if required.
The committee has been tasked with submitting its recommendations within three months, with the objective of developing a fair, equitable and sustainable minimum wage structure while taking into account the specialised skills, craftsmanship, cultural heritage and historical significance of the handicrafts and handloom sector.
Among its terms of reference, the panel will review S.O. 513 of 2022 dated October 12, 2022, and assess the need for revisions concerning the sector. It will also study existing wage patterns and disparities among artisans and weavers.
The committee will examine the socio-economic conditions of artisans and weavers and assess the effect of market conditions, raw material costs and fluctuations in demand on their earnings.
It will identify notified handicraft and handloom crafts that require inclusion in the statutory framework governing minimum wage rates in Jammu and Kashmir and recommend their appropriate classification.
The panel will also consult artisans, weavers, cooperatives, trade unions, exporters and other stakeholders and undertake field visits to major artisan clusters to gather first-hand information on wage-related issues.
In addition, it will compare wage structures in major handicraft and handloom clusters across the country.
