Assam Govt Announces Rs. 30 Interim Wage Hike for Tea Garden Workers from April 1

The Government of Assam has announced an interim increase of Rs. 30 in the daily wages of tea garden workers, which will come into effect from April 1, 2026. The decision was taken following the recommendation of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board for tea plantation workers. The move is expected to provide financial relief to lakhs of workers employed in the tea industry across the state.

With the new revision, tea garden workers in the Brahmaputra Valley will receive Rs 280 per day, an increase from the current Rs 250 per day. Meanwhile, workers in the Barak Valley will receive Rs 258 per day, up from the existing Rs 228 per day. The revised wages will apply to workers in both large tea estates and small tea gardens across Assam.

The Assam government issued an official notification on March 7 approving the interim wage hike. The decision followed discussions between the state government, tea garden owners, and labour unions during a meeting held on February 26. Officials said the hike is meant to offer immediate relief while a final wage structure for tea plantation workers is being discussed.

Rupesh Gowala, Minister of Home (Prisons, Home Guards and Civil Defense), Labour Welfare, Tea Tribes and Adivasi Welfare department. govt.of Assam shared the notification on instagram:

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Assam is the largest tea-producing state in India and employs more than 10 lakh tea garden workers in around 850 tea estates. For decades, wages of tea workers were determined through agreements between tea companies and labour unions such as the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha. However, in recent years the state government has taken a more active role in fixing minimum wages through advisory boards.

The wages of tea garden workers in Assam have been increased several times over the past few years. In October 2023, the daily wage was raised by Rs 18. Earlier increases were also introduced in 2022 and 2021 as part of efforts to improve the livelihood of tea plantation workers. Despite these hikes, workers’ wages in Assam remain significantly lower compared to states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where daily wages for tea workers are much higher.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has indicated that the Rs 30 hike is only an interim measure, and further discussions will continue under the new labour codes being implemented by the central government. According to him, stakeholders may hold another round of talks within the next six months, and the final daily wages for tea garden workers could cross Rs 300 per day in the future.