Amended rules to regulate migrant workers in force

Shillong, Sept 21: Labour Minister Methodius Dkhar has said the amended rules to regulate entry and employment of migrant workers are now in force.

Fines and imprisonment for contractors who fail to register workers were also notified.

The government launched the website and MIRSS portal for migrant workers’ registration on September 9.

“The portal is now live and the amended rules have been notified. The Act is effective now. The process will be easier but the rules will be more stringent to monitor migrant labour and ensure contractors comply with regulations for maintenance of migrant labour,” Dkhar told reporters.

He said violators will face graded punishment.

“First offence will attract Rs 10,000 penalty, second offence Rs 25,000 and third offence Rs 1 lakh with three months in jail,” he said.

The minister said the onus is on the contractors.

“The fine will be on the contractors, not the labourers. If a labourer comes by himself, someone has to employ him. Till someone employs him, he cannot be termed as labour. We don’t check on roadsides, we check at workplaces. If workers are found without registration at any site, the contractor will be punished,” Dkhar added.

The Jaintia National Council has stopped construction of the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Kairang village after detecting hundreds of migrant workers allegedly working without mandatory documents.

The inspection was conducted by the JNC led by general secretary Wanshwa Suting.

Suting said the contractor, Badri Rai Company, had engaged several hundred labourers from outside Meghalaya.

“We found several hundred non-tribal labourers brought from outside. None of them could produce proper licences or documents required to work here,” he said.

He said the workers had violated MRSSA and JHADC council rules.

“As per MRSSA 2020, every non-tribal worker must have a registration card and must register under Section 6(1) before the Registration Officer. They must also possess an Employee Service Licence under Rule 20(1) of the JHADC Trading by Non-Tribals Rules, 2015. These workers had none,” Suting said.

He said the EMRS project under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is meant to benefit tribals.

“This project is very beneficial – it will have hostels, sports facilities, skill development and job opportunities for locals. Its objective is to benefit tribals, not non-tribals. But sadly, only non-tribals are working here,” he said.

The JNC has allowed only local workers to continue and barred the non-tribal workforce till documents are verified.

“We have suspended work by non-tribal labourers. Only local workers can continue. We have told the company clearly not to bring outside workers when locals can do the job,” Suting said.