Mawkyrwat, November 13, 2025: The All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers Labour Union, in collaboration with the All Meghalaya Progressive Workers Union, held a meeting on Thursday at the office of the Executive Engineer, PHE Mawkyrwat Division. The meeting brought together muster roll workers from various government departments across South West Khasi Hills District to discuss long-pending labour concerns and the need for unified state-level action.
Speaking to the media, Bah Khroo L. Pariat, President of the All Jaintia Muster Roll Workers Labour Union, said the purpose of the meeting was to educate and inform muster roll workers about their rights and entitlements. He expressed concern that many workers continue to suffer financial difficulties due to the government’s failure to implement key benefits, including the Floor Rate, which is meant to be revised every five years but has not been updated since 2018.
Highlighting major unresolved issues, Pariat outlined two key demands:
Revision of the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) twice a year.
Clarification on the retirement age, as three conflicting government notifications currently cite 58, 60, and 65 years.
He reminded that in 2009, the Governor had approved 65 years as the retirement age for muster roll workers, acknowledging that they are not entitled to pension benefits.
The union also announced a Statewide General Meeting (Dorbar Bah) of all muster roll workers to be held on November 22, 2025, at Malki Ground, Shillong. The gathering aims to strengthen their collective movement against what the unions described as continued neglect and unfair treatment by the state government.
Among those present were Kong Euginia Wallang, Treasurer of the All Meghalaya Progressive Workers Union; Kong Weget Well Rumut, Assistant General Secretary; Kong Alginia Ryngkhlem, Treasurer; and several other leaders and members representing both unions.
Bah Pariat concluded by urging all muster roll workers across Meghalaya to participate in the upcoming statewide meeting to press for justice, fair treatment, and implementation of their long-overdue benefits.
