Shillong: The state cabinet of Meghalaya on Monday approved draft rules for implementation of The Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Labour, Prestone Tynsong said, "The cabinet has approved the draft rules framed by the labour department. Once the rules are in place, the implementation for registration of labourers will immediately take off."
The Act was passed in March earlier this year. It seeks to provide for the maintenance of public order and for the protection and safety of migrant workers by identification and mandatory registration of all such workers in the state.
The Act also stipulates that "it shall be the duty of every person, employing or engaging any migrant worker in any manner whatsoever to ensure the registration of such migrant worker failing which, the owner of any such establishment shall be liable to a fine which may extend to five thousand rupees."
According to the Act, where the Registering Officer registers the worker, he/she is responsible for issuing registration card to the migrant worker, with necessary particulars of the worker in the form.
The registration card shall remain valid for a period of 179 days since the date of issue.
As per the Act, the Registering Officer shall maintain a register containing the particulars of the migrant worker along with his local address, contact details, name and address of the owner of the establishment, if any, Adhaar/Election Photo Identity Card, permanent address and contact details of next kin.
It is also mentioned in the Act that it shall be the duty of the owner of any establishment, employing or engaging migrant worker to ensure their safety and security; reporting of any incident threatening the safety and security of the migrant worker to the jurisdictional police station and local authority.
The Act will become operative once the Governor's approval is obtained.