Background
Under sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (Central Act XI of 1948), as amended, the Governor of Meghalaya is empowered to revise the minimum rates of wages for scheduled employments in the State. The Department of Labour, Employment & Skill Development, Government of Meghalaya, issued Notification No. LE&SD.9/2023/Pt/26 dated Shillong, the 1st May, 2026, revising the rates of minimum wages, with effect from April 1, 2026, in respect of the schedule of employments listed below.
Applicability
Revised rates apply to all employers in the State of Meghalaya engaging workers in any of the following 29 categories of scheduled employment: (1) Agriculture; (2) Construction and maintenance of Buildings including Public Health Engineering, etc.; (3) Stone crushing and breaking operations; (4) Construction, Generation and Distribution of Power, Water supply, land development, excavation and reclamation; (5) Sericulture & Weaving; (6) Fruit Preservation; (7) Soil Conservation; (8) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary; (9) Forest; (10) Local Authority; (11) Public Motor Transport; (12) Saw Mill; (13) Plywood Industry; (14) Motor Workshops; (15) Furniture Industry; (16) Bakery; (17) Shops and Establishment; (18) Printing Press; (19) Sales, Distribution and handling of petroleum products; (20) Steel Fabrication and concrete products including brick making; (21) Tailoring; (22) Wax and Candle industry; (23) Hotels and Restaurants; (24) Mines and Minerals; (25) Safai Karamcharis; (26) Employment in Registered Factories not elsewhere classified; (27) Employment under Government Authority (casual contingency employee); (28) Domestic Workers; and (29) Security Guard.
Compliance Requirements
Notification No. LE&SD.9/2023/Pt/26 dated 1st May, 2026; Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Section 5(2)
The notification revises the daily minimum wage for the 29 scheduled employments listed above into four skill categories, each comprising a basic rate plus a revised Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), with effect from April 1, 2026. The revised rates are inclusive of VDA but exclusive of any other facility or concession enjoyed by employees, and the VDA component has been rounded off to the next higher rupee.
Sl. No. | Category of Worker | Basic Minimum Wage (₹/day) | Revised VDA (₹/day) | Total Minimum Wage (₹/day) |
1. | Unskilled | 525 | 30 | 555 |
2. | Semi-skilled | 565 | 33 | 598 |
3. | Skilled | 605 | 35 | 640 |
4. | Highly-skilled | 645 | 37 | 682 |
Penalty and Consequences
Under Section 22 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, an employer who pays an employee less than the minimum rate of wages fixed for that employee’s class of work, or who contravenes any rule or order made under Section 13 of the Act, is punishable with imprisonment for a term extending up to six months, or with fine extending up to ₹500, or with both. Under Section 22A of the Act, any employer who contravenes any other provision of the Act or of any rule or order made thereunder, for which no specific penalty is otherwise provided, is punishable with a fine extending up to ₹500.
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