SHILLONG, July 28: The recent exodus of over 2,500 skilled migrant workers from the state following several cases of harassment and assault by pressure groups has put the state government in a quandary. On one hand, the government is grappling with the problem of unemployment, while on the other hand it is staring at the unemployability factor.
Tourism Minister and MDA Spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh on Sunday admitted to the twin problems and said in order to address the problem of unemployment, the labour sector which is a vital component of the economy, has to be properly skilled since it is only when the local labourers are skilled that the need for interstate migrant workers will be mitigated.
“We have a huge problem of unemployment on one side and on the other we also have a huge problem of unemployability. The need for migrant workers will be eliminated when our labourers are skilled enough,” Lyngdoh added.
He was reacting to the recent incidents where pressure groups took matters into their own hands following the delay by the government in implementing the MRSSA and the ILP and started checking work permits and labour licenses of migrant workers, and deporting them back.
Reminding that the Interstate Migrant Workmen Rules were framed when he was minister in charge of Labour department, Lyngdoh said, “The biggest problem area is that there is an urgent need to upscale the department of Labour itself.”
“During my tenure we had appointed three more inspectors but I believe there is a deficit of manpower. It is only when the vacant posts are filled up and the manpower in the Labour department is strengthened, we will be in a position to effectively implement the rules,” he added.
He felt the need for better coordination between the Labour department and the three autonomous district councils which also have labour departments. Stating that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has already taken note of the seriousness of the matter, Lyngdoh said, “We would like to request all stakeholders to keep in mind that the interest of Meghalaya has to be the foremost whatever activities we undertake. Our activities will have to merge with the overall objective of ensuring that Meghalaya remains a winner.”
He made it clear that nothing should be done to make the state suffer.
“There are elements who will try to draw mileage out of a situation but I appeal to all concerned, especially the pressure groups, to keep in mind the best interest of the state,” he said.
