The Assam government has formalized the pay structure for its muster roll, fixed pay, and casual workers, aligning their remuneration with minimum pay scales. This significant development, detailed in an executive order from the Finance Department, ensures a fixed wage of Rs. 15,900 per month along with admissible Dearness Allowance (DA), effective from November 1, 2025. This move aims to provide enhanced financial stability and recognition to a substantial segment of the state’s workforce, addressing long-standing demands for improved compensation. The new structure also includes medical allowance and House Rent Allowance (HRA), bringing these workers closer to the benefits enjoyed by regular government employees, albeit without conferring regular employee status.

What was announced

The Government of Assam‘s Finance (EC-II) Department issued an executive order, bearing notification ID FD-22011/2/2022-EC_II-FIN-Finance I/1313406/2025, dated November 14, 2025. The order formally implemented minimum pay scales for muster roll, casual, and fixed pay workers who were engaged prior to the Assam Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (AFRBM) period. This decision was made in compliance with an order from the Gauhati High Court dated June 8, 2017, in the case of WA.45/2014 (State of Assam-Vs-Upen Das & Ors.). According to the executive order, eligible workers will receive a fixed wage of Rs. 15,900 per month. This amount will be supplemented by admissible Dearness Allowance (DA), a medical allowance of Rs. 600 per month, an annual increment of three percent, and 50 percent of the admissible House Rent Allowance (HRA). The revised pay structure became effective from November 1, 2025.

Why it matters

This formalization of the pay structure is a crucial step towards improving the financial well-being of thousands of muster roll, fixed pay, and casual workers in Assam. Previously, the remuneration for these workers often ranged between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 per month, as noted by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in 2018 when he was the state’s Finance Minister. The new fixed wage of Rs. 15,900, along with additional allowances, represents a substantial increase and brings their earnings closer to the minimum pay scales of regular government employees. The decision also addresses a long-standing demand for fair wages and better working conditions for these categories of employees. While the order explicitly states that these workers will not gain regular employee status or any pensionary claims, it provides a structured and significantly improved compensation package. The move is expected to enhance the financial security and stability of these workers across various state government departments.

Background

The issue of pay and regularization for muster roll, casual, and fixed pay workers has been a persistent concern in Assam for decades. Historically, these workers were engaged on temporary or ad-hoc bases, often with minimal remuneration and limited benefits. Efforts to regularize their services and improve their pay scales have been subject to various government policies and court interventions. In 1995, the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam issued an Office Memorandum regularizing muster roll workers engaged before April 1, 1993. Later, in 2005, the State Cabinet approved a decision to create over 30,000 posts for regularization, following a directive from the Gauhati High Court to frame a policy for casual workers. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Umadevi case (2006) set a precedent that regularization should not bypass constitutional recruitment procedures, limiting the scope for automatic regularization. Despite these legal complexities, the Assam government has periodically taken steps to enhance the benefits for these workers. In 2023, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a three percent annual increase in the wages of muster roll, casual, and work-charged employees, benefiting over 13,000 such workers. This current formalization of the pay structure builds upon these earlier initiatives, providing a comprehensive package of basic pay and allowances.

Key details

The formalized pay structure, as outlined in the Finance Department’s executive order, includes several key components:
  • Fixed Wage: A monthly remuneration of Rs. 15,900.
  • Dearness Allowance (DA): Admissible DA will be paid in addition to the fixed wage. The Assam Cabinet recently approved a three percent hike in DA, raising the total DA rate to 58 percent of basic pay for state government employees, effective from July 1, 2025. This enhanced rate also applies to work-charged and muster roll employees drawing minimum pay scales.
  • Medical Allowance: A fixed medical allowance of Rs. 600 per month.
  • Annual Increment: An annual increment of three percent.
  • House Rent Allowance (HRA): 50 percent of the admissible HRA. For regular state government employees, HRA rates are typically 10 percent of pay for the Guwahati Metro area, eight percent for district and sub-divisional headquarters, and seven percent for other places.
  • Effective Date: The new pay structure is effective from November 1, 2025.
The order explicitly states that the posts for these workers are personal to the incumbents and will be abolished once they relinquish their positions. It also reiterates the existing ban on fresh engagement of muster roll, work-charged, casual, and similar workers, which has been in effect since April 1, 1993. Administrative departments are mandated to ensure no new engagements occur against vacated posts and to maintain individual service records.

Reactions

The Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) welcomed the Assam Cabinet’s decision to increase the salaries of temporary employees, calling it a “long-overdue relief” for workers who have struggled with inadequate pay. In a statement issued on October 6, 2025, the SAKP described the move as a “positive step toward financial justice” and a reflection of the government’s recognition of the hardships faced by temporary staff.

What’s next

The implementation of the new pay structure began with payments reflecting the enhanced rates from November 2025. Administrative departments are responsible for ensuring strict compliance with the directives, including maintaining accurate records and preventing new engagements against vacated posts. The fixed wage, along with DA, will be subject to revision based on future DA enhancements and recommendations from future Pay Commissions. The Assam government recently constituted the 8th Assam Pay Commission in February 2026 to revise the pay and pension structure for its workforce, with recommendations expected within 18 months.

Sources & References

Source: Government of Assam, Finance (EC-II) Department Executive Order (FD-22011/2/2022-EC_II-FIN-Finance I/1313406/2025)