SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) is likely to file an appeal against a recent judgment by the Meghalaya High Court directing the implementation of “equal pay for equal work”.
Notably, in a historic ruling, the single bench of the High Court of Meghalaya has directed the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to implement “equal pay for equal work” for casual workers.
A Power department official said that the corporation’s legal team is scrutinizing the High Court’s equal pay judgment, as they have two months to implement the directive.
“The legal team has told the MeECL management that they have a strong case for filing an appeal against the judgment,” the official said.
“A decision on filing an appeal before the division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya will be made soon,” he stated.
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.
MPWU president Mantiphrang Lyngdoh Kiri, while describing the judgment as “historic”, said it grants MeECL’s long-serving casual workers the same salary and benefits as permanent employees with similar roles.
