Ladakh L-G Approves Long‑Pending Wage Rationalisation for Daily‑Rated Workers
Under the new wage structure, workers will be categorised as either unskilled or skilled. Skilled workers will receive ₹575 per day, while unskilled workers will be paid ₹450 per day
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has approved the long‑pending wage rationalisation for daily wagers, part‑time, seasonal and need‑based workers engaged by the Union Territory administration.
Announcing the decision on Sunday, he said that thousands of workers who have been earning as little as ₹300 to ₹500 per month for several years will finally receive fair compensation. Many among them have been serving for over 10 to 15 years on these meagre wages. The Lt. Governor has now ordered that their remuneration be aligned with the Minimum Wages Act of the Government of India.
Under the new wage structure, workers will be categorised as either unskilled or skilled. Skilled workers will receive ₹575 per day, while unskilled workers will be paid ₹450 per day. The revised wages will be calculated on a pro‑rata basis, depending on duty hours and the nature of work. This change is expected to result in a substantial increase in earnings for workers such as sweepers, gardeners, cleaners and others who support essential public services across Ladakh. The beneficiaries include both local residents and a significant number of migrant workers who had been compelled to work for extremely low wages due to long‑standing anomalies in the system.
The decision comes after numerous representations from daily wagers across various departments, urging the Lt. Governor to implement minimum wages. Responding promptly, Saxena directed the concerned departments to conduct a comprehensive verification of workers engaged after 17 March 2015 and ensure that wage rationalisation is carried out in a fair, transparent and uniform manner. He noted that different departments had engaged part‑time, seasonal and daily‑rated workers over the years at widely varying remuneration levels, leading to major disparities.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment, the Lt. Governor said that every worker deserves fair and dignified wages. He emphasised that daily wagers, seasonal and part‑time workers play a crucial role in strengthening public services and supporting developmental activities across Ladakh, especially in remote and challenging regions. The administration, he said, will do everything necessary to safeguard their welfare in a transparent and accountable manner.
Departments have been instructed to verify engagement details, nature of work, working hours and Aadhaar‑linked bank accounts of all workers and submit the verified data within twenty days. The revised wages will be disbursed strictly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to ensure transparency and prevent any leakages. The administration has also clarified that this exercise is solely a wage rationalisation measure and should not be construed as a step toward regularisation of services.
