Minimum Wages in Nagaland (2026): Current Rates, the Pending Revision and What Employers Should Budget For

If you run a shop in Dimapur's Hong Kong Market, a restaurant in Kohima, a hardware store in Mokokchung, a construction crew in Chümoukedima or a homestay near Dzükou, Nagaland's Labour Department sets the least you can pay. Those rates haven't changed since June 2019, and at ₹176 a day for unskilled work they are far below every neighbouring state. A revision has been agreed by the State Advisory Board and cleared by the Law and Finance departments, but was sent back for another look by the Cabinet in March 2026. This guide sets out the notified rates from the department's own notification, the proposed new rates and their timeline, the draft wage rules published in June 2026, the central rates that apply in Dimapur and Kohima, and payroll in rupees at both the current and the proposed rates.

Quick answer

Nagaland's notified minimum wages, under notification No.LAB-1/6/2004 (Pt-II) dated 14 June 2019, are ₹176 a day for unskilled work, ₹210 a day for semi-skilled and ₹235 a day for skilled work. No later rate notification had been issued by 12 October 2026.

• Proposed revision: ₹297 a day (proposed) unskilled to ₹450 a day (proposed) highly skilled — pending before the Cabinet

• About ₹5,280 a month for unskilled work on a 30-day month

• Central-sphere work in Nagaland (Area C): ₹565 a day unskilled

• Draft Nagaland Code on Wages Rules, 2026 published on 4 June 2026

How Nagaland's minimum wages work

Nagaland fixes its minimum wages under the old Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and these notifications continue to apply under the Code on Wages, in force since 21 November 2025, until the state fixes new rates under it.

The rates in force come from a one-page notification dated 14 June 2019, signed by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department in Kohima. It replaced the notification of 31 October 2012, partly modified an order issued two days earlier, and applied "with immediate effect" after Cabinet approval on 12 June 2019. It covers the scheduled employments in Schedules 1 to 19, which were regrouped to follow the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2008 codes.

The 2012 notification had 54 separate schedules — brick kilns, automobile workshops, printing presses, hotels and restaurants, shops, commercial establishments, hospitals and nursing homes, private schools and coaching institutes, hydro-electric projects, construction, loading and unloading, agriculture, plantations, stone crushing, transport and many more — with two skilled grades. The 2019 notice collapsed these into three grades and 19 schedules, but the copy published by the department doesn't reproduce the new schedule list. In practice, almost every private employer in the state — shops, hotels, workshops, construction, transport, schools' non-teaching staff, hospitals and small factories — falls within the scheduled employments.

There is no variable dearness allowance. Rates change only when the state issues a fresh notification, which is why they have stood still for more than seven years.

Nagaland minimum wage calculator

Skill level / category

UnskilledSemi-skilledSkilled

Days worked in the month

Overtime hours

Actual wage paid (₹/month, optional)

Months underpaid

A full month is 26 working days; the daily rate is the monthly rate ÷ 26 where the order fixes only a monthly figure.

Monthly minimum (26 days) — daily × 26₹4,576

Daily rate₹176

Pay for 26 days₹4,576

Overtime at 2× (₹44/hour)₹0

Minimum gross pay this month₹4,576

Overtime is paid at twice the ordinary rate (daily rate ÷ 8 hours). Arrears assume the same shortfall in every month since the rates took effect on 14 June 2019; a claim under the Code on Wages must generally be filed within 3 years. Estimates only — check the order for your employment.

How low is ₹176?

The unskilled rate is exactly the figure the Centre used as its advisory national floor level minimum wage in 2017, ₹176 a day (advisory, 2017). Since then other north-eastern states have moved well ahead:

• Assam pays an unskilled worker ₹405.52 a day including VDA from 1 January 2026.
• Manipur pays ₹400 a day a day from 12 March 2025.
• Meghalaya pays ₹564 a day a day from 1 October 2026.

Even the proposed Nagaland rate of ₹297 a day (proposed) would remain below all three. When the matter was raised in the Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister acknowledged that Nagaland's rates are comparatively low and said the proposed rates, though still lower than elsewhere, would bring the state closer to its neighbours.

Placing workers in a grade

The 2019 notification gives three rates but no job lists, so the older schedules remain the best guide to which grade a job belongs in. The 2012 notification named jobs for each grade, with two skilled grades that the 2019 notice merged into a single skilled rate of ₹235 a day.

• Shops, commercial establishments, hospitals and nursing homes. Lab technicians, radiographers, electricians and air-conditioning plant operators were senior skilled; managers, accountants, typists, salesmen, pharmacists, nurses, photographers and receptionists junior skilled. Clerks, cashiers, assistant salesmen, hairdressers, storekeepers and godown keepers were semi-skilled, and cleaners and helpers unskilled.
• Hotels and restaurants. Supervisors and head cooks were senior skilled, assistant cooks junior skilled, junior cooks and receptionists semi-skilled, and servers, bearers and cleaners unskilled.
• Building and road construction. Carpenters, masons, painters, operators, electricians and fitters were senior skilled; blacksmiths, linemen, mistries and assistant masons or carpenters junior skilled; earth breakers, rock excavators, hole drillers and helpers to masons semi-skilled; and earth diggers, ordinary labourers, night chowkidars and cleaners unskilled.

So, under the 2019 rates, a staff nurse in a Dimapur nursing home or a cook in a Kohima restaurant should get at least ₹235 a day a day, a cashier ₹210 a day, and a bearer or cleaner ₹176 a day. Judge the work actually done, not the job title, and when in doubt pay the higher grade — the gaps are small at today's rates and will widen once the proposed four-grade structure comes in.

The proposed revision and where it stands

According to the state government's reply in the Assembly, reported by Eastern Mirror on 3 September 2026, the revision has moved through these steps:

Nagaland's minimum wage revision

14 Jun 2019

Current rates notified: ₹176 a day / ₹210 a day / ₹235 a day

12 Mar 2025

State Advisory Board recommends new rates, following the Nagaland Human Rights Commission's recommendation

16 May 2025

Law and Justice Department vets the proposal

19 Jun 2025

Finance Department concurs

12 Aug 2025

Cabinet memorandum forwarded

23 Mar 2026

Cabinet asks Finance to re-examine the proposal

Sep 2026

Still pending; government promises a decision 'at the earliest'

The proposed daily rates are:

The proposal would also add a fourth, highly skilled grade. During the Assembly debate, a member asked for an inflation-linked VDA and periodic revisions, and suggested separate rates for government and private-sector workers if a single revision is too costly for the state. None of that is decided.

These figures come from a newspaper report of the government's reply, not from a Gazette notification, so treat them as a planning guide only. Until a notification is issued, the 2019 rates remain the legal minimum. Revisions elsewhere have often been made retrospective, so watch the effective date when the notification appears.

The draft Nagaland Code on Wages Rules, 2026

On 4 June 2026 the state published the Draft Nagaland Code on Wages Rules, 2026 in Nagaland Gazette Extraordinary No.18, giving 30 days for objections to the Labour Commissioner in Kohima. Unusually, the draft says the rules will come into force on the date of their publication in the Gazette, so watch for the final version; we had not seen it by 12 October 2026.

The key points of the draft:

• Floor wage. State minimum wages must not be lower than the floor wage fixed by the Centre. The national floor wage under section 9 of the Code had not been notified.
• Need-based formula. Rates would be set using the 15th Indian Labour Conference norms — three consumption units per family, 2,700 calories a day, 66 metres of cloth a year, housing at 10% of food and clothing, and so on.
• Four grades. A technical committee chaired by the Labour Commissioner would sort occupations into unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled.
• Conversion. A daily rate would be divided by eight for an hourly rate and multiplied by 26 for a monthly rate.
• Review. Rates would be reviewed at least every five years, and dearness allowance worked out before 1 April and 1 October each year.
• Hours. The normal working day would be ten hours including rest intervals of up to an hour, with a spread-over of no more than 12 hours and a weekly rest day, ordinarily Sunday.

If the twice-yearly DA rule is adopted, Nagaland would for the first time have rates that move with prices between full revisions.

Nagaland at a glance (2026)

₹176 a day

Unskilled, per day

since 14 Jun 2019

₹297 a day (proposed)

Proposed unskilled rate

pending Cabinet

₹565

Central Area C, unskilled

from 1 Oct 2026

7+ years

Since the last revision

Central-sphere work in Nagaland

If your workers are employed by or for a central government office, a bank, the railways at Dimapur, Dimapur airport, a central public sector undertaking, the Assam Rifles or another central body, the central minimum wages apply instead of the state rates. No Nagaland town appears in Area A or B of the central annexure, so all of Nagaland is Area C.

From 1 October 2026 that means ₹565 a day for unskilled construction, sweeping and cleaning, ₹661 for semi-skilled work, ₹794 for skilled work and unarmed guards, and ₹933 for highly skilled work and armed guards. Agricultural work in the central sphere starts at ₹486.

The gap is very large. A cleaner on a bank contract in Dimapur is owed ₹565 a day; the same cleaner in a private shop next door is owed ₹176 a day. Contractors who bid for central work at state rates face large arrears claims, so price central contracts on the central rates from the start.

Hours, overtime and monthly pay today

The 2019 notification sets only daily rates. Until the final rules say otherwise, use eight hours as the normal working day for converting rates, and pay overtime at twice the normal rate of wages, as the Code requires. An unskilled worker's hourly rate is ₹22, so an overtime hour is worth ₹44; for skilled work the figures are about ₹29.38 and ₹58.75.

For a monthly wage, Nagaland's 2012 schedules counted a month as 30 days, and payroll trackers still use 30 × the daily rate: ₹5,280, ₹6,300 and ₹7,050. Paying on that basis is the safer choice. The draft rules would switch to 26 days, but with much higher daily rates.

Worked payroll examples in ₹

Example 1 — a shop helper in Dimapur, current rates. Unskilled: ₹176 a day × 30 = ₹5,280 a month.

• ESI (if covered): average daily wage is not above ₹176 a day, so the employee pays nothing; employer 3.25% = ₹171.60
• EPF at 12% of wages (if covered): ₹633.60 each side
• Net pay = ₹4,646.40

Example 2 — the same helper at the proposed rate. ₹297 a day (proposed) × 30 = ₹8,910 a month — ₹3,630 more. The employee now pays ESI of ₹66.83 and EPF of ₹1,069.20; employer ESI is ₹289.58.

Example 3 — budgeting for ten workers. A Kohima hotel with six unskilled, two semi-skilled and two skilled staff pays at least 6 × ₹5,280 + 2 × ₹6,300 + 2 × ₹7,050 = ₹58,380 a month now. At the proposed rates (×30) the floor would be 6 × ₹8,910 + 2 × ₹10,650 + 2 × ₹12,000 = ₹98,760 — about ₹40,380 a month more before ESI and EPF.

Example 4 — a mason in Chümoukedima, paid daily. Skilled: ₹235 a day a day; 22 days = ₹5,170. If you already pay more, the floor still matters for overtime, arrears and records: keep the grade and daily rate on each wage slip.

Example 5 — a cleaner on a central bank contract in Kohima. Area C central rate: ₹565 × 26 = ₹14,690 a month, not the state's ₹5,280.

Minimum-wage check for a Nagaland employee

Step 1

Central-sphere work? → Area C rates

Step 2

State work → 2019 notification

₹176 / ₹210 / ₹235

Step 3

Pick the grade

unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled

Step 4

Monthly = day rate × 30

Step 5

Overtime at 2×

Step 6

Budget for the pending revision

Contract and migrant workers

Contract workers are owed the same rates as direct employees doing the same work, and the principal employer can be held answerable if a contractor underpays. Ask contractors for monthly wage registers, bank-transfer proof and ESI and EPF challans. Because a large revision is pending, write a clause into labour contracts that passes on any new minimum wage from its effective date, including arrears.

Workers who come from Assam, Manipur or further afield are paid at Nagaland rates for work done in Nagaland — but contractors bringing them for central projects must pay central rates.

For daily-rated workers — building labour around Dimapur, farm hands at harvest, loaders at wholesale markets — keep an attendance register that shows the date, the hours and the amount paid. When the revision arrives, that register is what you will use to work out any arrears from its effective date, and it is the first thing a labour inspector asks for.

Employer duties under the Code on Wages

• Pay on time — monthly wages before the end of the 7th day of the next month; full and final settlement within 2 working days.
• Deductions — no more than 50% of wages of wages in total.
• Overtime — twice the normal rate of wages.
• Records — keep employee, wage and attendance registers and give a wage slip each period; see our salary slip guide.
• Benefits — ESI and EPF come on top of the minimum.

Nagaland minimum wage checklist

0/6

• Pay at least ₹176 / ₹210 / ₹235 a day (×30 for monthly staff)
• Use central Area C rates on central government, bank, railway and PSU work
• Keep wage registers and issue wage slips every month
• Model your payroll at ₹297 / ₹355 / ₹400 / ₹450 to budget for the revision
• Watch the Gazette for the revision notice and its effective date
• Watch for the final Nagaland Code on Wages Rules

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Common mistakes Nagaland employers make

Assuming the proposed rates are already law. Until the notification is issued, the 2019 rates are the legal minimum — but be ready to pay arrears if the new rates are made retrospective.

Using state rates on central contracts. The central Area C rate is more than three times the state's unskilled rate.

Paying 26 days for a monthly wage. Payroll trackers and the earlier schedules use 30 days for a month.

Deducting employee ESI from the lowest-paid. Workers on an average daily wage up to ₹176 a day don't pay the employee share.

What happens if you underpay

A worker, a group of workers or a union can claim unpaid minimum wages under the Code on Wages within 3 years, and the authority can award the shortfall plus compensation of up to 10 times the claim. Paying below the minimum is an offence with a fine of up to ₹50,000 for a first offence and up to ₹1 lakh fine and/or 3 months' imprisonment for a repeat. Complaints go to the Labour Commissioner in Kohima and the district labour officers.

Official links

• Labour Department — information (2019 wage revision, draft 2026 rules)
• Labour Department — notifications (2012 schedules, Shops & Establishment Rules)
• Nagaland labour compliance portal
• The Code on Wages, 2019 (India Code)

What to do next

Make sure no one is paid below the 2019 rates, move central-sphere workers to the Area C rates, and model your payroll at the proposed rates so the revision doesn't catch you short. Then issue wage slips with our free salary slip generator, read our guides to the four labour codes and the Code on Wages, and compare our Assam and Manipur pages if you also employ people in neighbouring states.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Nagaland in 2026?

The notified rates are still those of notification No.LAB-1/6/2004 (Pt-II) dated 14 June 2019: ₹176 a day for unskilled work, ₹210 a day for semi-skilled and ₹235 a day for skilled work. A revision to ₹297 a day (proposed) for unskilled work was still before the state Cabinet in September 2026.

What is the monthly minimum wage in Nagaland?

The 2019 notification gives only daily rates. Nagaland's earlier schedules counted a month as 30 days, which gives ₹5,280 for unskilled work, ₹6,300 for semi-skilled and ₹7,050 for skilled work. On 26 working days the figures are ₹4,576, ₹5,460 and ₹6,110.

What is the proposed new minimum wage in Nagaland?

The State Advisory Board recommended ₹297 a day (proposed) for unskilled work, ₹355 for semi-skilled, ₹400 for skilled and ₹450 a day (proposed) for highly skilled work. Law and Finance cleared it in 2025, but on 23 March 2026 the Cabinet asked Finance to re-examine it. It is not yet law.

Why is Nagaland's minimum wage so low?

Nagaland last revised its rates in June 2019 and does not add a variable dearness allowance, so the rates haven't moved with prices. The unskilled rate of ₹176 a day equals the Centre's old advisory national floor of 2017. The Deputy Chief Minister told the Assembly in 2026 that the rates are 'comparatively low'.

Do central minimum wages apply in Dimapur and Kohima?

Yes, for central-sphere work — central government offices, banks, railways, Dimapur airport, central PSUs and their contractors. No Nagaland town is in Area A or B, so all of Nagaland is Area C: ₹565 a day for unskilled construction, sweeping and cleaning from 1 October 2026, more than three times the state rate.

Does ESI apply to workers on Nagaland's minimum wage?

Where ESI covers the establishment, yes, but an employee whose average daily wage is up to ₹176 a day pays no employee contribution. A worker paid exactly ₹176 a day a day therefore pays nothing, while the employer still pays 3.25%.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 12 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Notification No.LAB-1/6/2004 (Pt-II) dated 14 June 2019 — Revision of minimum rates of wages — Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Nagaland · accessed 12 October 2026
2. 2.Nagaland Gazette, Part II-A, 30 November 2012 — Notification No.LAB-1/6/2004 (Vol-III) dated 31 October 2012 (Schedules 1–54) — Labour & Employment Department, Government of Nagaland · accessed 12 October 2026
3. 3.The Nagaland Gazette Extraordinary No.18, 4 June 2026 — The Draft Nagaland Code on Wages Rules, 2026 — Labour Department, Government of Nagaland · accessed 12 October 2026
4. 4.Nagaland minimum wage revision awaits Cabinet nod — Eastern Mirror · accessed 12 October 2026
5. 5.Labour Bureau orders dated 30 September 2026 — revised VDA and central minimum wages w.e.f. 01.10.2026, with Area A/B/C annexure — Labour Bureau, Chandigarh, Ministry of Labour & Employment (published on clc.gov.in) · accessed 12 October 2026
6. 6.The Code on Wages, 2019 (No. 29 of 2019) — India Code, Legislative Department · accessed 12 October 2026
7. 7.Government announces implementation of the four Labour Codes (21 Nov 2025) — PIB — Ministry of Labour & Employment · accessed 12 October 2026
8. 8.Latest Minimum Wages for Shops and Establishments in Nagaland — DCPSOL · accessed 12 October 2026