Shillong, March 2: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said it is the state Government and not District Councils that can issue licenses to migrant workers, even as he mentioned that inspector of labour posted in each and every C&RD block headquarter are being authorized by the State Government to issue Labour license.

Talking to reporters, Tynsong said, “Just last year we passed one act, in the name of Meghalaya Inter-State Migrant Workers Act done …. even the rule in place, now the question of issuing labour license lies with the State Government it is no more with the district council.”

Talking about the various C&RD block where several constructions are taking place,  he said, “As per the rule we authorize even the inspector of labour posted in each and every C&RD block headquarter they can issue labour license,  so those who does not have they have to submit their documents and the state Government has already flagged off the details in the rules accordingly they need to furnish that and we will issue the labour license.”

Last year, the state Cabinet had approved the draft rules of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Rule 2020 with an aim to regulate the unbridled entry of migrant labourers. It was subsequently passed in the Assembly.

Asked, the Deputy Chief Minister said that labour inspector are entrusted to conduct the inspection and find out the possibility of procurement any illegal labourer
Tynsong said,  “We have instructed upto the block level the labour inspector has been authorized, instructed that you need to go the ground and check those who do not have labour license they will not be allowed to work. “

Tynsong, who also holds the labour portfolio was replying to the question on the safety of labourers in the context of the attack on some workers in South West Khasi Hills.
He urged those concerned, including the contractors, to register the labourers with the labour inspectors.

Stressing on involving traditional institutions in the process, Tynsong said,  “The moment we issue the labour license those concern contractors and also those concern labourers need to send a copy to the nearest police station and also to the traditional institution before they start their work.”