By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 1: Currently on a heightened vigilantism against migrants, the Khasi Students’ Union has threatened not to honour the Non-Tribal Employee Clearance Certificate issued by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The declaration came after a meeting between the Union and Winston Tony Lyngdoh, Executive Member in charge of the KHADC’s Labour Department, held in the presence of KHADC Chairman Strongpillar Kharjana.
Reaffirming its stand against the unchecked entry of migrant labourers in Sohra Civil Sub-Division, the Union maintained that only those with valid police verification and no objection certificates (NOC) from the local village Dorbars where they are employed will be allowed to work in the area.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, KSU-SKHD president Reebokstar Diengdoh raised concerns over the system of contractors paying migrant workers Rs 700 per slip to obtain the certificate, questioning how the KHADC could ensure accountability when many workers fail to perform their duties responsibly and are only concerned with earning money.
He further revealed that the Executive Member admitted that the Labour Department lacks sufficient staff to directly monitor workplaces, and has instead outsourced inspections to private individuals.
On the Union’s demand that KHADC certificates should be mandatory in place of slips provided to migrant workers, Diengdoh said the EM clarified that the KHADC has no legal authority to evict migrant labourers.
Questioning the relevance of issuing labour clearance certificates without any mechanism to enforce compliance, Diengdoh urged traditional village Dorbars to deny entry to outsiders who cannot produce an NOC from their respective local headmen.
It may be noted that the KHADC has maintained that it is mandatory for all migrant labourers to obtain the labour clearance certificate from the council before applying for labour licence from the state’s Labour Department, following the enactment of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had made it clear that the autonomous district councils cannot issue licences to migrant workers.
Tynsong had stated that following the passing of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, the power to issue labour licence now lies with the state government and not with ADCs.
The Act seeks to prevent the commission of offenses of harassment, intimidation, discrimination and such other actor omission that may affect the safety and security of migrant workers.
Anybody who threatens the safety and security of a migrant worker will be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 months or with a fine which may extend to Rs 5,000, it stated.
In August last year, the government amended the Act to increase penalties for violations from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh, enhance checks on migrant worker antecedents by using the central CCTNS system, and streamline enforcement with the appointment of Inspectors and clearer responsibilities for Registering Officers.