Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEP 3 (NPN): The Nagaland government has initiated the process for revising minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled workers, with the proposed rates substantially higher than the existing wages, deputy chief minister TR Zeliang informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to a starred question by NPP member Nuklutoshi, Zeliang said the revision was initiated in accordance with the order and recommendation of the Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) dated July 9, 2024.
He said the Draft Recommendation of the State Advisory Board on Fixation of Minimum Wages, 2025, had been referred to the Law & Justice and Finance departments for vetting and concurrence, following which a Cabinet memorandum was submitted. The State Advisory Board, at its meeting on March 12, 2025, proposed minimum wages of Rs 297 per day for unskilled workers, Rs 355 for semi-skilled, Rs 400 for skilled and Rs 450 for highly skilled workers.
Nuklutoshi pointed out that the existing minimum wages, notified in November 2019 with effect from June 14, 2019, were Rs 176 per day for unskilled workers, Rs 210 for skilled Grade-II and Rs 235 for skilled Grade-I workers. Based on 30 days, these translated to monthly wages of Rs 5,280, Rs 6,300 and Rs 7,050 respectively.
Zeliang said the proposed revision was vetted by the Law & Justice Department on May 16, 2025, and concurred with by the Finance Department on June 19, 2025. A Cabinet memorandum was subsequently prepared and submitted for approval.
The matter was taken up by the Cabinet on March 23, 2026, when the Finance Department was directed to re-examine the Labour Department’s proposal and submit it with its views and comments. Zeliang said Finance had since re-examined the proposal and reiterated its earlier opinion, which was concurred with in June 2025. The latest observation was under consideration by the competent authority for further examination and re-submission to the Cabinet.
During the discussion, Nuklutoshi said Nagaland’s minimum wages remained considerably lower than those in neighbouring northeastern States and were inadequate in view of the rising cost of living.
Citing the NSHRC’s observations, he said Assam had minimum wages of Rs 240 per day for unskilled, Rs 280 for semi-skilled and Rs 350 for skilled workers, with variable dearness allowance, resulting in approximate monthly wages of Rs 9,800, Rs 11,391 and Rs 14,239 respectively.
He also cited Meghalaya, where minimum wages effective from October 2023 were Rs 402 for unskilled, Rs 445 for semi-skilled, Rs 509 for skilled and Rs 563 for highly skilled workers, translating to approximately Rs 12,060, Rs 13,650, Rs 15,270 and Rs 16,890 per month.
Nuklutoshi said comparatively higher wage rates in Mizoram, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh further highlighted the inadequacy of Nagaland’s existing rates.
He called for immediate comprehensive revision of minimum wages, an appropriate variable dearness allowance linked to inflation and periodic revision to protect workers from rising living costs. He also suggested that financial implications could be considered separately for government and private-sector workers.
Nuklutoshi asked how long it would take for the proposed wages to be finalised and sought an assurance from the government.
Zeliang acknowledged that Nagaland’s wage rates were comparatively low, particularly in comparison with other northeastern States, and said the member’s view was well taken.
He maintained that the proposed rates, though still modest, would bring Nagaland closer to wage levels prevailing in other northeastern States. He assured the House that the matter would be settled as soon as possible once the Finance Department’s observations were processed and the proposal returned to the Cabinet.