The new framework announced by LG VK Saxena brings significant pay hikes, with skilled workers set to receive ₹575 per day and unskilled workers ₹450 per day after verification under the Minimum Wages Act in Ladakh.
BY PC Bureau
May 17, 2026: In a move aimed at ensuring fair compensation, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has approved a comprehensive wage rationalisation reform for thousands of daily wagers, part-time, and seasonal workers engaged by the Union Territory Administration.
The reform will bring a substantial increase in the earnings of workers who have long been receiving extremely low wages — in some cases as little as ₹300 to ₹500 per month — despite many having served for 10 to 15 years or more. Under the new framework, eligible workers engaged after March 17, 2015, will receive wages in line with the Minimum Wages Act, subject to proper verification.
Workers will be categorised into “skilled” and “unskilled” categories. Skilled workers will now be paid ₹575 per day, while unskilled workers will receive ₹450 per day. Wages will be calculated on a pro-rata basis according to duty hours and the nature of work. The affected workers include sweepers, gardeners, cleaners, and other support staff across departments, comprising both local residents and migrant labourers.
The decision follows multiple representations from daily wagers highlighting wage disparities that had persisted for years. Different departments had engaged such workers at varying rates, leading to widespread inconsistencies.
“UT Administration is fully committed to ensuring fair and dignified wages for all workers. Daily wagers, seasonal and part-time workers play a crucial role in strengthening public services and developmental activities across Ladakh, particularly in remote and challenging regions. Every worker deserves fair compensation for their labour, and the Administration will do everything required for their welfare in a transparent and accountable manner,” said Lieutenant Governor Saxena.
READ: Manipur Hostage Crisis: Let Commandos And Guns Do The Talking
A landmark reform in Ladakh to ensure dignified wages to the marginalized wage earners.
I have ordered a major wage rationalization for daily wagers, part-time/need-based workers, like sweepers, cleaners, gardeners, etc., who were working for pay as low as Rs 300 to Rs 500 per…
— LG Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) May 17, 2026
The wage rationalisation is expected to have a far-reaching impact on the socio-economic conditions of hundreds of families in Ladakh. Many workers in remote areas have long faced financial hardship due to meagre earnings. The move is likely to improve morale among the workforce, strengthen service delivery in key sectors such as sanitation, horticulture, and maintenance, and set a precedent for labour welfare in the Union Territory.
The Administration has directed all departments to complete verification of engagement details, nature of work, working hours, and Aadhaar-linked bank accounts within 20 days. Revised wages will be disbursed directly into workers’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure transparency.
Officials clarified that the wage rationalisation exercise does not amount to regularisation of services and is aimed solely at correcting long-standing anomalies and ensuring compliance with minimum wage norms.
The reform is being seen as one of the most significant administrative initiatives in Ladakh since it became a Union Territory, with the potential to substantially improve livelihoods of hundreds of low-paid workers engaged in essential services across the region.
