SHILLONG : Meghalaya Labour Minister Methodius Dkhar on Wednesday said registration under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration, Safety and Security of Migrant Workers (MIRSS) Act is essential to track and assist migrant workers during emergencies, but cautioned that the process must not be misused to harass workers or employers.
Dkhar was speaking after launching the amended MIRSS Rules, 2026, along with an e-payment gateway for fines and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementation of the Act at a state-level orientation programme held at Tara Ghar.
The Minister said effective implementation of the framework would require close coordination among the police, district administration, employers, contractors, trade unions and civil society organisations.
“The Labour Department will play a central role and our focus will be on four areas — awareness, facilitation, inspection and enforcement,” he said.
Dkhar urged Deputy Commissioners to work closely with labour officials and stressed that the police would have an important role in enforcement.
Under the amended framework, there will be closer coordination between police and labour officials, he said.
“Any complaint relating to harassment, intimidation, discrimination or physical injury against migrant workers should be promptly registered, investigated and dealt with as per law,” Dkhar said.
He also called for greater coordination with the source states of migrant workers for verification, emergency assistance and welfare measures.
Highlighting the contribution of migrant workers to sectors such as construction, infrastructure, healthcare, hospitality, agriculture and manufacturing, Dkhar said employers must ensure their safety and access to statutory benefits.
He said registration would help the government identify where migrant workers are employed, but stressed that the process should not create unnecessary barriers.
“The process must respect privacy and dignity and information collected must be used only for legitimate public purposes,” he said.
MIRSS Act Strengthened Through 2026 Rules
Commissioner and Secretary Dr B.D.R. Tiwari said the MIRSS Act was enacted in 2020 and amended in 2024 before being further strengthened through the MIRSS Rules, 2026.
“This Act is for safety and security of migrant labourers coming from outside for temporary employment and simultaneously to protect employment and interests of local people. It is a national mandate implemented as state legislation,” Tiwari said.
He said the amended Rules provide a clearer framework for online registration through a portal, stronger SOPs, identification of enforcement officers and a robust penalty mechanism.
Tiwari stressed that the Labour Department cannot implement the Act alone.
“Home, Police and district administration will be on the ground for enforcement. So close coordination is required to secure the intent of the Act and safety of both local and migrant workers,” he added.