ADCs cannot issue NOC to migrant workers: Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 19, 2021

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Labour Prestone Tynsong on Friday said all the three autonomous district councils (ADCs) have no power to issue No objection certificate to migrant workers prior to their obtaining labour licenses from the state government. 

“There is no provision in The Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020 where ADCs can issue NOC to migrant workers prior to applying for labour licenses,” Tynsong said. 

“All the three ADCs cannot issue or cannot make it mandatory for migrant workers to get NOC (from them)…as it is not mandated (as per the Act),” he added. 

Tynsong was replying to a zero hour notice tabled by Mawlai legislator Process T Sawkmie during the last day of the Assembly’s budget session. 

Earlier this month, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) had maintained that it is still mandatory for all migrant labourers to obtain a clearance labour certificate from the council. 

The deputy chief minister has also appealed to all private business houses and companies to furnish all details of the migrant workers being engaged by them  in the form of application, which can be submitted both online and offlne mode. 

“Therefore, we request all concerned people who intend to bring in migrant workers that registration is a must and those who does not will be subjected to penalty as per provisions and rules of the Act,” he said. 

Stating that the department has enough manpower to implement the Act except in the newly created blocks, Tynsong said there are 39 labour inspectors in the existing blocks across the state. 

“We have sent a proposal to the government so that all the 46 blocks are covered (with adequate manpower),” he said. 

Tynsong also informed that he has already instructed the officers to organize workshops or seminar like programmes for providing detail information to local authorities, police, contractors and others in as far as issuing of labour licenses to migrant workers is concerned. 

“We are trying to make sure this Act prevail in totality in the state as we have seen quite a number of unpleasant incidents that have happened. Therefore, from now onwards, the employers will have to take full responsibility,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister said the state government through the labour department is serious to implement the Act, which was passed last year. 

He said the fee structure is fixed at Rs 50 for registration with a validity of only 179 days. According to him, migrant workers will have to renew it before 30 days prior to expiry of the registration.