By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Concerned over the spurt in influx into the State, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is contemplating to formulate its own Labour Act which would help the Council to regulate the flow of influx in an efficient way.
Informing this on Thursday, KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngain N Syiem admitted that the Council has not been able to keep a check on the flow of influx in areas under the jurisdiction of the KHADC in the absence of a full-fledged law.
“At the moment, the Council can only urge non-tribal labourers to acquire labour licenses from the Council. We cannot impose anything on them as of now,” Syiem said in his reply to a question raised by Mawlai MDC Embhah Syiemlieh (UDP) during the ongoing summer session of the KHADC on Thursday.
According to the KHADC CEM, the Council at present is issuing labour licenses in accordance with the notification for regulation of labour services in the State.
“I assure the members of the House that the Executive Committee (EC) will look into the issue of formulating its own Labour Act,” Syiem added.
Earlier, Executive Member in charge Labour, Teinwell Dkhar, admitted that they cannot penalise non-tribal labourers who fail to acquire labour licenses from the Council as they are not authorized to do so.
Syiemlieh, however, was not convinced and observed that it was the duty of the Executive Committee to find out ways and means to ensure that non-tribal labourers obtained valid trading licenses.
“I am surprised that the Council is issuing labour licenses on the basis of a mere notification. I strongly suggest that the Council formulate its own Labour Act at the earliest,” he said.