The Meghalaya Government has brought into force the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers (MIRSS) Amendment Rules, 2026, aimed at strengthening the identification, registration, safety and security of migrant workers in the State. Minister in-charge of Labour, Employment and Skill Development Methodius Dkhar launched the amended rules, along with an e-payment gateway for payment of fines and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for their implementation, at the State Guest House (Tara Ghar) in Shillong.
The amended framework seeks to make the registration system more practical, transparent and accessible, while enabling authorities to respond more effectively during emergencies. The launch also marked a step towards strengthening the implementation of the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, and the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Amendment Act, 2024.
Emphasising the need to protect migrant workers, Dkhar said the launch was more than a formal notification and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to their dignity, safety and security.
“I believe today is not merely the notification or the launch of the Ammendment rules but we are reaffirming the principle of our government that every workers, migrant workers deserve dignity, they deserve safety, security, they deserve fair treatment in their work place,” the Minister said.
Dkhar said the amendment sought to make the existing mechanism more effective in identifying and registering migrant workers.
“This ammendment seeks to make a system that identification registration and safety and security more effectiveness and more reality for the migrant labourers,” he said.
Highlighting the contribution of migrant workers to the State’s economy, Dkhar said they formed an important part of Meghalaya’s workforce and were engaged across various sectors.
“In Meghalaya, migrant workers plays very important role in the work force in our state Meghalaya. They contribute in various sector,” the Minister said.
He said proper identification and registration were crucial for enabling authorities to reach migrant workers, particularly during emergencies.
“That is the reason why Identification and registration are very important and we are happy that we have launched today the act as well as the Ammendment rules that is required to make the act more effective and more accessible to all,” Dkhar said.
The programme included presentations on the MIRSS Act, 2020, the Amendment Act, 2024, and the Amendment Rules, 2026. The e-payment gateway for payment of fines and the SOP for implementation of the amended Act and Rules were also soft-launched as part of efforts to streamline compliance and enforcement.
Secretary of the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development L.S.N. Garod Dykes, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary B.D.R. Tiwari, IAS, and Principal Secretary Frederick Roy Kharkongor, IAS, attended the programme. Tiwari delivered the introductory speech, while Kharkongor delivered the keynote address.
