Meghalaya tightens rules for migrant workers; to enforce heavier penalties, verify antecedents

Shillong, Aug 2: Meghalaya government has amended the rules of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020 (MIRSSMWA) to make it easier to verify the antecedents of the migrant labourers coming to state for work. At the same time, it has decided to substantially hike the penalty for defaulting offenders.

The State Cabinet has approved the amendment of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Rules, 2020 to allow the State police to verify the antecedents of the migrant labourers by making use of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS).

“One of the major components of the new amendment is that the state government will optimize efforts to check the antecedents of migrant workers to ensure that only those with no criminal antecedents can join the workforce as migrant workmen in Meghalaya. The cabinet decided that it would make use of a central system called CCTNS,” MDA spokesperson and cabinet minister, Paul Lyngdoh, told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Friday.

“Under this system, which is a database of the crimes and criminals, we will ensure that on the basis of this data available, we will be able to verify the antecedents of migrant workers and two, the local police will also be able to verify these antecedents based on this system. This system is available with the police and the department of labour will coordinate accordingly to ensure that the records of those who will be registered as migrant workers here in Meghalaya are properly verified,” he added.

The amendment comes following forceful checking of documents of migrant labourers by the pressure groups in the Khasi – Jaintia Hills region in the past two months. They have sent back close to 3000 workers for not possessing relevant documents. They have cited multiple Acts to regulate the migrant workers in the State.

To this, the Minister clarified that only the Meghalaya Identification Registration Safety and Security of Migrant Workers Act, 2020 (MIRSSMWA) is to be referred to for registration of migrant workers. Any act prior of this act is invalid.

At the same time, the cabinet has also decided to enhance the penalty for not complying with the rules of the Migrants Act 2020 to Rs. 1 lakh from the existing Rs 5,000.

“The cabinet has approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020 (MIRSSMWA) and the same will be tabled in the upcoming Assembly’s session for its final approval,” the Minister informed.

While the minister wasn’t clear on who the fine will apply to – the workers or the agency/firm bring them into the state, he added that in the case of repeat offenders, there will be a simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “We are verifying their antecedents so that they don’t unnecessarily add to the crime graph of Meghalaya. If they have criminal records, which they have committed in their home State, obviously such character will not be welcome to work.”

Stating that Meghalaya largely depends on migrant workers from outside, he said, “This is because there is a shortfall of local workers available and therefore, we anticipate that number will be significant enough that if we do not verify their antecedents, they will become a threat to the peace and security of Meghalaya.”

Lyngdoh further added, “Once this decision has been taken today, I am sure that this will allay the fears of illegal immigration to a large extent.”

According to him, two major components of people entering Meghalaya are either tourists or labourers. “In the case of labourers, they tend to stay for a longer period of time, which is why we have introduced in today’s amendment in order to tighten the rule of law that would prevail over such a labour force,” he stated.