Meghalaya Mandates Strict Registration for All Migrant Workers

Shillong: Meghalaya officials are cracking down on migrant labor. The state now requires all migrant workers to register under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act and Rules, 2020. Labour Commissioner Banteilang Kharsahngi confirmed workers must carry a separate Registration Card. Employers and contractors bear the responsibility for this process.

Registration costs Rs 50. Workers can submit applications through the Labour Commissioner’s Portal, the Invest Meghalaya Portal, the state public service commission website, local help desks, or Common Service Centres. Applicants must provide government-issued documents like a PAN card, driving licence, BPL card, or voter ID, though Aadhaar remains excluded. Police will perform background checks using the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems. Officials must finish verification within 30 days, though they may issue a provisional report in the meantime.

Approved cards stay valid for 179 days. Workers must apply for renewal at least 30 days before expiration. The state warned of fake documents circulating at check gates, citing Section 336 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. "The department has also warned of fraudulent Registration Certificates and Acknowledgement Slips being generated and displayed at check gates across the state and elsewhere," the notice stated.

Non-compliance carries a heavy price. A first offense costs an employer Rs 10,000. Repeat offenders face a Rs 25,000 fine. A third strike results in a Rs 1 lakh fine, three months in jail, or both.