Shillong: The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) put contractors on notice Monday. The group will not accept acknowledgement slips as legal proof for migrant workers in Meghalaya. KSU environment secretary Shiningstar Kharbihkhiew issued the warning following a sit-down with Labour Commissioner Banteilang Kharshandi.
The union demands full enforcement of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020. Officials previously met with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P Ahammed to push for these protections. While the Labour Department has started orientation programs for staff, the union remains skeptical of progress on the ground.
Kharbihkhiew clarified that workers need a provisional certificate for 30 days followed by a labor certificate good for 179 days. "We have found cases where migrant workers are carrying only acknowledgement slips. We will not accept this if we come across such cases during our checking and inspections," Kharbihkhiew said.
KSU units are preparing for immediate site inspections across the state. They want the government to include stronger protections from the 1979 Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act. The union proposed fines for non-compliant contractors between Rs 5,000 and Rs 1 lakh. They also suggested jail time of up to one year for migrant workers who violate the registration rules.
Kharbihkhiew insists that police and labor officials must force individuals with dubious credentials to leave Meghalaya. The union is waiting for a formal government notification before they drop their campaign. They intend to judge the state by results, not promises.
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