Shillong: More than 93,000 migrant labourers have been officially registered in Meghalaya under a legislation aimed at safeguarding their rights and ensuring their welfare, officials confirmed.
The initiative falls under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety and Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, which mandates the documentation of all migrant workers entering the state.
The registration process, launched in 2021, is part of a broader effort to enhance worker protection and maintain accurate records of labour movement across districts.
As of 2024, a total of 93,282 migrant workers have registered under the Act. East Khasi Hills accounts for the largest share with 41,242 registrations, followed by East Jaintia Hills at 29,932.
Other districts reporting registrations include Ri-Bhoi (10,138), West Khasi Hills (3,820), West Jaintia Hills (3,575), South West Khasi Hills (2,858), West Garo Hills (782), North Garo Hills (372), South Garo Hills (326), East Garo Hills (183), and South West Garo Hills (55).
Workers are required to pay a nominal registration fee of Rs. 50 and must renew their labour cards every six months. In 2024, the state’s Labour Department collected Rs. 93.28 lakh through this process.
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To strengthen enforcement, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly recently passed an amendment to the Act.
The revised law significantly raises the penalty for non-compliance—from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 1 lakh—and introduces mandatory screening of migrant workers through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), aimed at bolstering security checks.
Officials say the legislation is central to the state’s strategy for managing internal labour migration while ensuring the rights and safety of workers are upheld.
