By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 20: A day after the state government reiterated that autonomous district councils (ADCs) cannot issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to migrant workers, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief executive member Titosstarwell Chyne has said he will meet Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to confer about the matter. The state government made it clear that ADCs do not have the mandate to issue NOCs to migrant workers as it had passed the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020.
“I cannot say anything on the matter right now, but I will meet the deputy chief minister and discuss the matter,” Chyne said.
Tynsong had, on the floor of the House, reaffirmed that there was no provision in the Act to allow ADCs to issue NOCs prior to obtaining a labour licence.
Earlier, Chyne had maintained that the migrant workers will have to obtain a Labour Clearance Certificate (LCC) from the Council.
He had also asked Tynsong to incorporate a provision in the Act to make it mandatory for migrant workers to obtain an LCC from the Council. Till February, the Council was issuing Labour Service Licences (LSLs). The Council began issuing LSL on its own since November 2020.
As per official figures, from November 2020 to February 2021, the KHADC earned Rs 14.94 lakh, by issuing 1,993 such certificates to non-tribal labourers.
The Council was charging Rs 700 for each LSL, which had to be renewed every six months.