Shillong, Sept 21: Heavy fines and imprisonment will be imposed on contractors who fail to register workers, as the government has enforced amended rules to regulate the entry and employment of migrant workers.
Labour Minister Methodius Dkhar on Monday said the website and MIRSS portal for registering migrant workers have been open since September 9, and contractors will bear the brunt if workers are found without registration at any worksite.
“The portal is now live and the amended rules have been notified. The Act is effective now. The process will be easier, but the rules will be more stringent to monitor migrant labour and ensure contractors comply with regulations for the maintenance of migrant labour,” Dkhar said.
He said violators will face graded punishment.
“The first offence will attract a Rs 10,000 penalty, the second offence Rs 25,000 and the third offence Rs 1 lakh along with three months’ imprisonment,” he said.
“The fine will be imposed on the contractor, not the labourer. If a labourer comes by himself, someone has to employ him. Till someone employs him, he cannot be termed as labour. We don’t check on roadsides; we check at workplaces. If workers are found without registration at any site, the contractor will be punished,” Dkhar warned.
