SHILLONG: In a historic ruling, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to implement “equal pay for equal work” for casual workers.
More than 1,300 casual and contractual workers of the MeECL are expected to benefit from a recent order of the High Court.
After hearing a petition filed by the MeECL Progressive Workers’ Union (MPWU), Justice Wanlura Diengdoh-headed single bench of the High Court on July 15 passed an order directing the MeECL to take necessary action for ensuring that the members of the petitioner/union, whose names can be found at Annexure- A/3, are paid equal pay for equal work.
The court ordered MeECL that the affected workers, including cleaners, peons meter readers, and linemen, must receive the same pay as their permanent counterparts performing similar duties.
As per the court’s order, MeECL is required to implement the equal pay structure within two months of receiving the certified copy of the judgment.
The members of the MPWU, on Friday, submitted the certified copy of the court’s order to the MeECL management.
Exuding satisfaction over the high court’s ruling, MPWU president Mantiphrang Lyngdoh Kiri said, “We are thankful to the High Court which has given this judgment to implement equal pay for equal work.”
Describing the judgment as historic, he said it grants MeECL’s long-serving casual workers the same salary and benefits as permanent employees with similar roles.
Kiri said the formation of the union in 2017 benefitted the workers as the management had initiated steps to fulfil some of the points highlighted in the charter of demands.
The MPWU president said they have started getting the benefits of earned leave, casual leave, overtime allowance, maternity leave, and increment of the minimum wage by 5 percent, 10 percent, and 15 percent for those who have completed 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years of service at MeECL.
He alleged that the management was reluctant to accede to the demand for the regularisation of their services by citing financial difficulties.
Social activist Angela Rangad, who assisted the union in filing the petition, hailed the ruling as a victory for casual workers and a beacon of hope for other labour groups in Meghalaya.
