By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 28: The All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers’ Union (AJMRWU) has warned that it will launch an agitation, halt work, or move the High Court of Meghalaya if the state government fails to clear the pending arrears of daily wage workers from October 2023 onwards.
The union has given the government one week’s time to provide a written assurance on payment of arrears, failing which it will decide on the next course of action during its upcoming general meeting.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri on Tuesday, union adviser Khroo L Pariat said that they would hold a meeting of all muster rolls on October 3 to decide whether to accept the government’s proposal, continue working, or pursue legal action.
The union also plans to deliberate on filing a petition in the Meghalaya High Court to seek interpretation and enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 regarding the floor wage rate.
Meanwhile, he said that the discussion during the meeting with Mantri focused on the implementation of arrears and the enhancement of the floor wage rate under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. He said that the meeting was specifically about the non-payment of arrears for muster roll and casual workers across various departments for the period from October 2, 2023, to December 31, 2024. “We have already held four meetings with the Labour department and the Finance department on this issue, but there has been no resolution,” Pariat said.
According to him, the Commissioner and Secretary assured that the matter would be resolved within a month.
However, the union rejected this timeframe, saying it has already waited nearly a year for the arrears to be implemented. “We told him clearly that waiting another month is too long. We have already waited for almost one year. That is why we are giving only one week’s time for the government to respond in writing,” Pariat stated.
He said that the union also plans to deliberate on filing a petition in the Meghalaya High Court to seek interpretation and enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 regarding the floor wage rate.
Pariat further expressed concern that the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) notification, which was due in October 2025, has not yet been issued by the Government of Meghalaya despite rising inflation. “The government has not revised the VDA nor held any meeting to address it. This is unfair to the workers who are already struggling with the high cost of living,” he added.
