An organisation demanding introduction of the ILP regime in Meghalaya on Friday alleged that factories in Byrnihat are sheltering undocumented migrants from neighbouring Assam. The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), which has long advocated for the implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya, said it carried out a surprise verification drive across several industrial units in Ri-Bhoi district. The drive, conducted on Friday, reportedly uncovered the presence of a large number of migrant workers lacking valid documents.
“These factories are becoming safe havens for illegal immigrants from Assam. Many are working without identification, labour licences, or police verification, which is a clear violation of Meghalaya’s labour laws,” FKJGP president Dundee C Khongsit told reporters. The group said it launched the checks after receiving repeated complaints from locals about the influx of undocumented workers and the alleged inaction of the district administration and labour department.
Under existing state laws, all migrant workers in Meghalaya are required to register with the labour department. However, the FKJGP claimed that this protocol is being widely ignored, especially in industrial zones like Byrnihat, which lie close to the Assam border.