Shillong, September 30: The Meghalaya Labour Commissioner has warned against the use of fraudulent migrant worker registration certificates and acknowledgement slips, while reminding contractors and employers that all migrant workers engaged in the state must be registered under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers (MIRSS) Act and Rules, 2020.
According to a press release issued by the Labour Commissioner, every migrant worker is required to register and obtain a separate Registration Card. The responsibility for ensuring registration rests with the contractor or employer engaging the worker, and failure to comply can attract penalties under the Act.
Applications for registration must be submitted online to the concerned Registering Officer in the area where the migrant worker is to be employed. The application fee has been fixed at ₹50. Applications can be made through the Labour Commissioner’s Portal, the Invest Meghalaya Portal, the Meghalaya State Public Service Delivery Commission website, Common Service Centres or help desks at District Labour Offices across the state.
Under the MIRSS Amendment Rules, 2026, applicants are required to submit prescribed documents including a Voter Identification Card, Driving Licence, PAN Card, BPL Card or other documents issued by the government or its authorities, with Aadhaar specifically excluded from the list mentioned in the release.
A police verification report is also required. The State Police Department may use the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) for provisional verification until the police verification process is completed, which should not take more than 30 days.
Once approved, the Registration Card will remain valid for 179 days and can be renewed upon expiry, provided the application for renewal is submitted at least 30 days before the card expires.
The Labour Commissioner said contractors or employers violating the provisions of the Act can face a fine of ₹10,000 for the first offence and ₹25,000 for the second offence. For a third or subsequent offence, the penalty can extend to ₹1 lakh, or simple imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
The department also said it has come to its notice that fraudulent Registration Certificates and Acknowledgement Slips are being generated and produced at check gates and other locations.
It warned that unauthorised duplication or alteration of documents or electronic records with fraudulent intent is punishable under Section 336 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
