Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Power, Prestone Tynsong, on September 15, assured that the government will take adequate steps to consider the demand of the casual employees of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for regularisation as per law.
“The matter relating to the demand for regularization of 1802 casual workers is of great concern to the corporation (MeECL) and the demands has not fallen in deaf ears,” Tynsong said while replying to a zero-hour tabled by opposition chief whip and Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh in the Assembly.
“However, before considering the demands, the implication that may arise both legally as well as financially must be examine intricately and not commit any inconsistency in the matter and taken into account with the financial constraint of the corporation,” he added.
The MeECL Progressive Workers Union (MePWU) has been demanding regularization of casual/contractual employees and payment of pending arrears for the month of October 2018 to February 2019.
Tynsong said that the payment of arrears is considered on a priority basis.
He said the erstwhile MeSEB had engaged outsiders on casual basis on need based.
The engagement was for a period of 60 days with one day break. Renewal of the casual engagement was made from time to time.
With the incorporation of the MeECL from April 1, 2010 these casual workers continued to be engaged and are paid daily wages as per the Minimum Wages Act as followed by the government of Meghalaya and adopted by the corporation.
At present there are 1802 casual employee employed in MeECL and its three subsidiaries.
Tynsong said with a view to streamline the engagement of casual workers in the corporatoon and also keeping in mind the welfare of such employees, the MeECL has introduce a contract agreement with a validity period of one year which shall be renewed annually with benefits which include provident fund, subsidy on coverage of MHIS, casual leave, earned leave, maternity leave, payment of overtime.
He said the proposal was also to enhance the salary which that the percentage of enhancement of wages of the employee whose tenure of service is above 5 years but below 10 years is fixed at 5% of the total amount of monthly wages and to those whose tenure of service is above 10 years but below 15 years is fixed at 10% of the total amount of monthly wages.
The MePWU while opposing the said proposal has submitted its charter of demand consisting of 10 demands which includes regularization. However, after a thorough deliberation with the MPWU members, pending consideration of the demand for regularization, the contractual agreement of 1 year was implemented and the above benefits have been extended to all the casual and contractual workers of the MeECL.