Shillong, July 20: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday assured registration of migrant workers will be done in letter and spirit even as he reiterated that ‘work permit’ is not required to work in Meghalaya. He emphasized that there are no provisions in the law for ‘work permit’.

He, however, warned that tough actions will be taken against those involved in breaking the law by conducting unauthorized checking of documents across the region. So far, 10 cases have been filed against organizations and individuals involved in such acts.

The KSU has been conducting checking of documents of migrant workers as a mark of protest against the alleged government’s failure to implement anti-influx mechanisms that include the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 and Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. According to the KSU, over 2500 migrant workers were pushed back during the last 12 days, after they were found without valid documents; and the union has vowed to intensify this drive.

After convening a meeting with a delegation of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) here on Friday, Sangma told reporters that the state government had explained to the delegation regarding the work permit that was mentioned time and again, that there are no provisions in the law when it comes to work permit as such, adding that the government has assured to ensure compulsory registration of migrant workers in the state.

He also addressed confusion and misconception arising out of a particular notification, which was later corrected. “There was a particular notification to which I am presuming that individuals and organizations are referring to, which used the word ‘work permit’ but later on clarified the word ‘work permit’ refers to the application of the Inter-State Migrant Workers Act. So therefore, that particularly notification did ultimately came up with a corrigendum saying that work permit is not the actual word but work permit means implementation of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, which does not have any provisions for work permit but it has a provision for registration of labourers done by the contractors or by the employers if they are five or more, who are going to come to the state, they have to come through this particular Act and register,” the CM explained.

On KSU’s demand for giving more tooth of the act, the CM said, “There were also suggestions given regarding the state Act in terms of the penalty that is there in the State Act that it should be stringent, which will definitely examine those matters. They also mentioned different aspects of verification and how people coming from outside can be verified.”

“But at the end of the day what is important is that they are concerned about ensuring that whatever rules and laws coming out should be implemented in a proper manner and purpose should be served ensuring that migrant labourers coming in should have proper documentation and whether in terms of background check or in term of identification and other formalities,” Sangma added.

On the KSU’s announcement to intensify checking of documents till the government is ready to come up with anti-influx mechanisms, the CM said nobody has the right to conduct such checking. According to him, 10 cases have been filed against organizations and individuals, who have been doing this.

“Yesterday in Sohra also, very firm action was taken by the police and nothing was allowed. Therefore, our job is to ensure that law is implemented and wherever these kinds of things happen, the law will take its own course and if somebody is breaking the law and creating any kind of situation then the law will take its course,” Sangma maintained.

He said he wanted to ensure that the union is briefed clearly on the laws and dispel any confusion there is, and underscored that “nobody has the right to check and anybody who does that and any organization or individual, who does that, the law will take its course.”

Read: Conrad rebuts KSU narrative on MRSSA, says 2016 version already implemented in Shillong

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