The validity of labour license issued by the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya is in question with the Meghalaya government proposing to come up with new legislation.
Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said the matter of labour license and work permit to migrant labourers in the state have to be dealt with by the state government by coming up with separate legislation.
“The state government is proposing to come up with a separate state Act to look into the matter of issuing of labour license and work permit to migrant labourers who come and work in the state,” said Tynsong, who is looking after the labour department.
He said the state law department is examining the proposal and according to him, the exercise would ensure clarity on the matter so that there is no clash between laws passed by the Parliament and the state legislature.
Tynsong said the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 and Building and Other Constructions Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 are currently being implemented in the state.
The ADCs have been taking advantage of the situation all these years by issuing labour license to migrant labourers who come and work in the state, said Tynsong.
Tynsong pointed out the absence of a provision in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India for the ADCs to issue labour license, except issuing of the trading license.
“But labour license and trading license are totally different. Now I cannot say whether it is legal or illegal (for ADCs to issue labour license), but I have asked my officers to go deeply into the matter in order to clear all doubts and to have clarity,” Tynsong added.