SHILLONG, Sept 15: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Power Prestone Tynsong on Thursday assured that the government will take adequate steps to consider the demand of the casual employees for regularisation as per law.

“The matter relating to the demand for regularisation of 1802 casual workers is of great concern to the corporation (MeECL) and the demands has not fallen on deaf ears,” Tynsong said while replying to a zero hour tabled by opposition chief whip and Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh in the Assembly.

“However, before considering the demands, the implication that may arise both legally as well as financially must be examined intricately and not commit any inconsistency in the matter and take into account the financial constraint of the corporation,” he pointed out.

The MeECL Progressive Workers Union (MePWU) has been demanding regularisation of casual/contractual employees and payment of pending arrears from the month of October 2018 to February 2019.

Tynsong said the payment of arrears is being considered on a priority basis.

He said the erstwhile MeSEB had engaged outsiders on casual basis on need basis.

The engagement was for a period of 60 days with one day break. Renewal of the casual engagement was made from time to time.

With the incorporation of the MeECL from April 1, 2010, these casual workers continued to be engaged and are paid daily wages as per the Minimum Wages Act as followed by the Government of Meghalaya and adopted by the corporation.

At present, there are 1802 casual employees employed in MeECL and its three subsidiaries.

Tynsong said with a view to streamline the engagement of casual workers in the corporation and also keeping in mind the welfare of such employees, the MeECL has introduce a contract agreement with a validity period of one year which shall be renewed annually with benefits which include provident fund, subsidy on coverage of MHIS, casual leave, earned leave, maternity leave, payment of overtime.

He said the proposal was also to enhance the salary whereby employees whose tenure of service is above 5 years but below 10 years will get enhancement of 5% of the total amount of monthly wages and to those whose tenure of service is above 10 years but below 15 years , the enhancement was fixed at 10% of the total amount of monthly wages.

The MePWU while opposing the said proposal has submitted its charter of demand consisting of 10 demands which includes regularisation. However, after a thorough deliberation with the MePWU members, pending consideration of the demand for regularisation, the contractual agreement of 1 year was implemented and the above benefits have been extended to all the casual and contractual workers of the MeECL.