Guwahati, March 10 The Assam government has announced an increase in the daily wage of tea garden workers by Rs 30 from next month, according to an official notification.
The increase will apply to workers in both large and small tea gardens across the state, which is the country's largest tea-producing state.
"Following the recommendation of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board for tea plantation workers of Assam in its meeting on February 26, 2026, the Governor of Assam is pleased to allow a temporary increase of Rs 30 in the temporary minimum wages of tea plantation workers, effective April 1, 2026," the notification issued on March 7 stated.
Accordingly, tea workers in the Brahmaputra Valley will receive Rs 280 per day, up from the current Rs 250, while those in the Barak Valley will be paid Rs 258 per day, up from the current Rs 228, starting April 1.
The increase in temporary wages will also apply to workers in small tea gardens in both the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys, the notification added.
The last time the minimum daily wage for tea garden workers was increased in the state was in October 2023, when it was raised by Rs 18.
The state Cabinet had approved the Rs 30 increase in daily wages on February 26, following a tripartite meeting held earlier that day between the state government, tea garden labour unions, and owners, on the issue of increasing wages.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said after the Cabinet meeting that, as the Centre was implementing new Labour Codes, wages would have to be increased again, and the stakeholders would "probably have to sit again in the next six months".
He added that the final daily wages for tea garden workers were likely to exceed Rs 300.