Nagaland Human Rights Commission Pulls up State Govt for Non-Revision of Daily Wages, Asks Chief Secy to Respond in a Month

In 2019, the per-day wages fixed for the daily-wage workers was-- Rs 176 for the unskilled, Rs 210 for semi-skilled and Rs 235 for skilled workers.

The Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) has pulled up the state government for not revising the daily wages of workers since 2019 and has asked the Chief Secretary to respond within a month.

Daily-wage workers in Nagaland have been getting paid a meagre Rs 176-235 per day for the past five years despite high inflation over the years.

“With the rise in the inflationary rate during the past 5 years it is difficult to imagine how the employees/workers of the State Government would manage both ends meet with the present wages they are given. If a state government does not pay its employees/workers at least to meet their basic needs it would amount to exploitation and denial of right to live with dignity. Happening of such things would certainly not augur well in a democratic and welfare state. Therefore, we have no doubt that the Government of Nagaland would not desire to allow such things to even creep-in into our system,” said the Commission.

“The employees/workers of the State Government who are paid with minimum wages belong to the lowest socio-economic strata of the society. They are people who have no choice but, to work as such, just to manage their survival”, it added.

The NSHRC further pointed that revision of the daily wages by the Central and state governments is mandatory under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

In response to growing concerns over the financial hardships being faced by these workers and pressing for fair compensation and improved living standards for the daily wagers, the Commission has asked the state government to review and revise the minimum wages of the workers engaged under scheduled employment in 2-3 months and implement a fair wage structure.

The per day wages fixed five years back was Rs 176 for the unskilled daily workers, Rs 210 for semi-skilled daily wagers and Rs 235 for skilled daily workers.

The panel also highlighted that neighbouring states including Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh have reviewed and revised their employees’ wages, paying much higher than Nagaland is paying currently.

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