SHILLONG : The All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers & Labour Union has welcomed the Meghalaya Cabinet’s decision to raise the age of cessation of engagement for muster roll workers from 58 to 60 years, while urging the state government to implement the revised ceiling retrospectively and reinstate workers who were prematurely removed from service.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on October 12, the union expressed gratitude for the Cabinet’s September 15, 2026 decision, describing it as a historic step towards addressing the long-standing concerns of muster roll workers across the state.
The memorandum was submitted through Joint Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Shivansh Awasthi.
“The cabinet under your visionary dynamic leadership took historic and progressive steps to address the long standing issues of muster roll workers relating to wages, retirement age, maternity leave and benefits, EPF and other welfare measures through the BOCWB under Labour Department, which has brought renewed hope and confidence to thousands of workers and their children,” the union stated.
Thanking the Chief Minister for approving the revised age ceiling, the union said the decision would help safeguard workers’ livelihoods and dignity in their later years.
“We extend profound and heartfelt gratitude for officially approving 60 years as the age of cessation of engagement for muster roll workers, increasing it from 58 years. This landmark decision secures livelihood and dignity in twilight years,” it said.
However, the union placed four key demands before the government to ensure the effective implementation of the decision.
Retrospective implementation from September 25, 2025
The union demanded that the revised 60-year age ceiling be made effective from September 25, 2025, when the Personnel & AR (B) Department issued Notification No. PER(SR)33/2009/13, denotifying the earlier upper age limit of 65 years.
It argued that the intervening period required formal regularisation under the revised age ceiling and urged the government to apply the 60-year limit retrospectively from that date.
Reinstatement of prematurely retired workers
The union also sought the reinstatement of muster roll workers who were removed from service after the September 25, 2025 notification, arguing that they should be allowed to resume work until they attain 60 years of age.
“The Government should humanely allow those muster roll workers who were forced to retire prematurely immediately after the notification to resume service until they attain 60 years,” the memorandum stated.
Expedite EPF implementation
On social security, the union urged the Chief Minister to issue clear and firm directions to administrative officers to expedite the implementation of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
It called for the provisions to be implemented in both letter and spirit to strengthen the financial security and welfare of muster roll workers.
Welfare boards for technical and field directorates
The fourth demand concerned the establishment of welfare boards across all core technical and field directorates, beyond the Public Works Department (PWD) and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.
The union proposed that these boards follow the model of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCWB) to ensure workers receive targeted welfare, safety and other benefits.
Additionally, the union suggested transferring the administrative control of muster roll workers from the Personnel & AR (B) Department to the Labour Department.
According to the union, the proposed transfer would help streamline daily administration and ensure faster and more timely delivery of welfare benefits to workers across Meghalaya.