The Nagaland government is in the final stages of processing a proposal to revise minimum wages for workers in the State, with the proposed rates significantly higher than the wages currently in force.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge of Labour, Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, TR Zeliang, informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday that the government had initiated the revision in accordance with the Nagaland State Human Rights Commission’s (NSHRC) order and recommendation of July 9, 2024.
Responding to questions raised by Member Nuklutoshi, Zeliang said the State Advisory Board on Fixation of Minimum Wages had met on March 12, 2025, and recommended revised daily rates of ₹297 for unskilled workers, ₹355 for semi-skilled workers, ₹400 for skilled workers and ₹450 for highly skilled workers.
He said the draft recommendations of the State Advisory Board were subsequently sent to the Law & Justice Department for vetting and to the Finance Department for concurrence.
The Law & Justice Department vetted the proposal on May 16, 2025, while the Finance Department concurred with it on June 19, 2025, vide U.O. No. 199. A Cabinet memorandum was thereafter prepared and submitted along with a forwarding letter dated August 12, 2025.
However, the matter remained pending after the Cabinet considered the proposal on March 23, 2026 and directed the Finance Department to re-examine it and submit its views and comments.
Zeliang said the Finance Department had since re-examined the proposal and reiterated its earlier opinion, which had already been concurred with in June 2025. He stated that the latest Finance Department observation was presently under consideration by the competent authority for further examination and re-submission to the Cabinet.
The Minister also stated that the government had been periodically communicating with the NSHRC regarding the action taken on its orders and recommendations.
The issue came under scrutiny after Nuklutoshi pointed out that Nagaland’s existing minimum wages were considerably lower than those prevailing in neighbouring northeastern States.
He noted that the existing rates, fixed under a government notification issued in November 2019 with effect from June 14, 2019, were ₹176 per day for unskilled workers, ₹210 for skilled Grade-II workers and ₹235 for skilled Grade-I workers. These translated to monthly wages of ₹5,280, ₹6,300 and ₹7,050 respectively on a 30-day basis.
Nuklutoshi cited the NSHRC’s comparison with neighbouring States, pointing out that Assam had rates of ₹240, ₹280 and ₹350 per day for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers respectively, with variable dearness allowance.
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He further cited Meghalaya’s rates, effective from October 2023, of ₹402 per day for unskilled, ₹445 for semi-skilled, ₹509 for skilled and ₹563 for highly skilled workers.
He also referred to higher minimum wages in Mizoram, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, arguing that the disparity underscored the need for an urgent revision in Nagaland.
Nuklutoshi maintained that the issue was not simply one of increasing wages but of ensuring decent livelihood, dignity of labour and social justice for economically vulnerable workers. He urged the government to introduce a variable dearness allowance linked to inflation and establish a mechanism for periodic revision of minimum wages.
He also raised the financial implications of the revision, suggesting that the government’s downsizing and abolition of contingency posts could reduce the financial burden. He called for consideration of the government and private sectors separately, noting that workers employed by private establishments also faced increasing living costs.
Seeking a definite timeline, Nuklutoshi asked how much longer it would take to finalise the revised rates and sought an assurance from the government.
Zeliang acknowledged that Nagaland’s minimum wages were comparatively low and said the member’s concern was well taken. He stated that the proposed rates would bring the State closer to wage levels prevailing in other northeastern States.
He assured the House that the matter would be settled at the earliest after the Finance Department’s observations were processed and the proposal was placed before the Cabinet again.
