SHILLONG, JUN 15: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement has submitted a representation to the Chief Engineer of the State Sports Council, urging immediate implementation of the Meghalaya Regular Casual Workers Scheme, 1996 for daily wage employees of the Council.
In the representation, KHNAM cited the state government’s Office Memorandum dated September 16, 1996, which defines casual workers as persons employed on daily wage basis and provides for their regularization and benefits.
Quoting Section 3 of the scheme, the organization stated that “a casual worker who has been working for a continuous period of not less than ten years may be conferred with the status of a Regular Casual Worker.”
It further pointed to Section 4 on leave and other benefits, and Section 5 which mandates that 50% of Group D vacancies be filled from among Regular Casual Workers, with half of RCW service added for retirement benefits.
KHNAM alleged that the State Sports Council has “failed to implement the provisions of the RCW 1996 in letter and spirit.” The organization claimed that wages paid to daily wage employees are not at par with rates notified by the Labour Department and that statutory benefits like EPF and ESIC are not being provided.
“Daily wage workers at the State Sports Council have been serving for years, yet they are denied the protection guaranteed under the 1996 scheme. Wages are below Labour Department rates and basic benefits like EPF and ESIC are missing,” KHNAM said.
The movement has requested three specific actions: application of the RCW 1996 provisions to all daily wage employees of the Council, payment of wages at rates fixed by the Labour Department, and inclusion of all employees under EPF and ESIC schemes as mandated by the government.
“Your kind intervention will ensure protection of the rights of the daily wage employees and for this act we will remain grateful,” KHNAM stated in the representation.
By Our Reporter
