NSHRC directs Nagaland government to place minimum wages memo before Cabinet by March 31

KOHIMA — The Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) has directed the state government to ensure that the draft Cabinet memo on minimum wages is placed before the Cabinet for consideration at the earliest, but not later than March 31, 2026.

The commission issued the direction in February. Earlier in 2024, the NSHRC had recommended that the government review and revise the wages of employees and workers listed under scheduled employments by October 2024.

However, despite a lapse of more than a year, the revision of minimum wages is yet to be implemented.

“It has been more than a year and a half since we made our recommendation dated July 9, 2024, to the government of Nagaland for review and revision of the wages payable to the employees/workers employed in the state of Nagaland specified in Schedule 1–19 of the revised list of scheduled employments as per NIC Code 2008,” the commission observed.

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It stated that the recommendation was made in accordance with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, which mandates review and revision of wages every three years.

It added that wages in Nagaland have not been reviewed or revised since 2019.

“Counting the years since the last review and revision was made, it is now almost seven years. In the meanwhile, inflation has not remained static. Therefore, the commission is deeply concerned about the living conditions of the employees/workers employed in the state of Nagaland,” it stated.

According to the commission, repeated responses from the government stating that the ‘Draft Cabinet Memo of the Minimum Wages, 2025’ was under submission to the Cabinet Cell for approval, without any visible progress, had increased its concern.

“In such circumstances, the commission has no choice but to direct the chief secretary, government of Nagaland, to ensure that the draft Cabinet memo is put up to the Cabinet for consideration at the earliest but not later than March 31, 2026,” it said.