Shillong Apr 30: Conveying his best wishes to labourers across the state on the eve of May Day, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said that protecting the interest of labourers is a must.

May 1 is celebrated as International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day and often referred to as May Day. The day is a celebration of labourers and the working classes.

Tynsong who is in-charge of the Labour Department, said that the government has implemented schemes for the benefit of labourers especially construction workers while referring to the “The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and “The Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Rules, 2011.”

Under the Rules, the Meghalaya Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (MB&OCWB) was created by the State Labour Department to look after the welfare of construction labourers.

Tynsong said that under the Rules, the state government has also collected a cess to be used for the welfare of the labourers.

The benefits of a member worker include maternity benefits, welfare pension, advance for purchase or construction of a house, disability pension, loan for purchase of tools, payment of funeral assistance, payment of death benefit, cash award educational institute, medical assistance to beneficiaries, financial assistance for education and marriage, family pension, skill development among others.

He urged the labourers to avail the benefits by getting themselves registered.

On labourers facing exploitation, Tynsong asked the employers to strictly adhere to the acts and rules and think for the interest of labourers being engaged by them.

He said that labourers should not be exploited, and employers should take care of the interest of the workers.

Tynsong said that each labourer should get holiday once a week, and warned against those who forced children to work.

Meanwhile the Khasi Jaiñtia Labour Union (KJLU) Mawlai Circle conveyed its greetings to all labourers on the occasion of May Day.

KJLU Mawlai Circle president, Kitdor Nongrum said that the Union would soon convene a meeting to discuss issues related to the welfare of labourers.