HYC demands strict implementation of migrant workers Act

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 21, 2025

The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has written to the state’s Joint Labour Commissioner demanding stricter compliance and proper 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.

According to him, the council 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 failed 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 concerns 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 engaged in any work or employment until and unless the Registration Card is issued to such migrant worker,” Synrem said.

The HYC also 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, was detected by our members on 20th August, 2025 while conducting anti-influx drive at Byrnihat Check Post. This shows that there maybe ten of thousands 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.