SHILLONG, Aug 8: The Assembly’s Committee on Women Empowerment on Monday asked the labour department to come up with a plan on how to protect the rights and interests of workers working in the unorganized sector in the state.

After chairing a meeting, Chairperson of the Committee Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters that the department has been given one month’s time to come back to the committee with details on the numbers of individuals engaged in various sectors of work.

“We have asked the labour commissioner to immediately come up with a plan and she has already discussed some of the plans. We have given the department some time and in one month from today we will have a better idea,” she said.

Lyngdoh, who is also East Shillong MLA, said that the labour department was also asked to find out how best the government can protect the rights and interests of domestic workers, women engaging in housekeeping activities, in other contractual works and others.

“We are told women whenever they get pregnant they don’t get maternity leave. We are ensuring that this issue now becomes a number one priority in the state of Meghalaya,” she stated.

The committee had also interacted with the various agencies that provide jobs in the unorganized sectors in the state of Meghalaya. This includes the unique ex-servicemen security agency.

The committee wanted to know whether all workers are receiving their rights like one day off in a week, the nature of their contracts and others.

“We also want to ensure all workers are covered under the minimum wage act of the government of India. We want to ensure all workers working in shops and other business establishments also receive their rights as workers,” Lyngdoh said.

She further assured that the committee will ensure workers are accessible to all the various laws that are in operation not only in Meghalaya but also in the country as a whole.  The next sitting of the committee will be held on September 8.