By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 29: Labour Minister Shakliar Warjri on Friday reaffirmed that the government will not compromise on the interests and safety of the indigenous population by issuing labour licences to migrant workers without proper documentation.
He told reporters that all migrant workers are required to apply for labour licences through the official web portal and submit the necessary documents.
“Without valid documents, no labour licence will be issued,” he stated.
When asked about the Hynniewtrep Youth Council’s (HYC) concerns regarding forged or illegally obtained “acknowledgement slips” and “registration cards” by migrant workers, particularly in the Byrnihat area, the minister said he will convene a review meeting to look into the matter.
“I will be able to respond once I hold discussions with my officers,” he added.
Recently, the HYC had urged the Joint Labour Commissioner to address concerns about the practice of interstate migrant workers forging acknowledgement slips to enter Meghalaya.
In a letter addressed to the officer, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said that during anti-influx drives at construction sites and factories, members of the organisation detected migrant workers working only on the strength of the Labour Department’s acknowledgement slip.
The HYC urged the Labour Commissioner to direct all concerned, including police personnel at infiltration check gates, not to take these slips as valid documents until a registration card is issued.
The HYC also argued that acknowledgement slips and registration cards were being manufactured, forged, or illegally obtained by migrant workers, particularly in the Byrnihat area.
The HYC submitted a copy of a doctored registration card purportedly issued by the Registration Officer of East Jaintia Hills to one Bishal Sharma on February 1, 2026.
“It was detected by our members on August 20 during an anti-influx drive at the Byrnihat Check Post. This shows that there may be thousands of migrant workers who may not have applied through the proper system and entered Meghalaya illegally, which poses a threat to the state as a whole,” Synrem said.
He demanded the necessary steps to ensure that migrant workers enter Meghalaya legally and follow due process. He also sought strict action against individuals making or selling forged documents.