HYC moves labour commissioner on migrant workers

Shillong, Aug 21: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has urged Joint Labour Commissioner for implementation of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020.
In a letter submitted on Thursday, HYC president Roykupar Synrem has expressed concern about migrant workers entering and working in Meghalaya using only an “acknowledgement slip” issued by the Labour department, without proper verification of their antecedents.
The HYC said it is concerned about the manufacturing, forgery, or illegal obtaining of “acknowledgement slips” and “registration cards” by migrant workers detected during checkings particularly in the Byrnihat area of Ri Bhoi District.
“We fail to understand as to how these people are allowed to enter the State or working in various sites only on the strength of the said slip issued by the Labour department. This is unacceptable as the antecedents of these people are yet to be verified until the Registration cards are issued to them. As such necessary steps and direction be given to all concerned including the police personnel at the Infiltration Checkgates not to take such “acknowledgement slip” as valid documents to allow for the migrant workers to enter the State or to engage in any work or employment until and unless the Registration Card is issued to such migrant worker,” Synrem said.
The HYC submitted a copy of such manufactured/forged/illegally obtained registration card. “…one person by the name of Bishal Sharma, was issued (with sch a registration card) by the ‘Office of the Registration Officer, East Jaintia Hills’ on 01/02/2026,.
“It was detected by our members on 20th August, 2025 while conducting anti-influx drive at Byrnihat Check Post. This shows that there may be thousands of migrant workers who may have not applied through the proper system and have entered the State illegally which poses threat to the State as a whole,” he said while demanding that necessary steps be taken to ensure migrant workers enter Meghalaya legally and follow due process and strict actions should be taken against individuals making or selling forged documents.