SHILLONG, MAY 4: The Joint Action Committee of Meghalaya Muster Roll Workers Union on Monday thanked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for enhancing the Variable Dearness Allowance for muster roll and daily wage workers, saying the CM “replied with action” to their long-pending demand.

Adviser to the JAC, Khroo L Pariat, said the May Day announcement addressed concerns the union had raised for years.

“On May 1, which is May Day, we saw that Conrad K Sangma announced the VDA which has been enhanced for muster roll workers and daily wagers,” Pariat said.

“We accept this notification or order issued by Labour and at the same time we thank the chief minister that he has given his approval to our demand and valued what we have been expressing, for which we have agitated for a long time,” he said.

“The chief minister replies with action,” Pariat added.

The JAC had planned a statewide protest on May 11, but called it off following the government’s decision.

“In fact, we had planned to agitate on the 11th across the entire state, but the government through the chief minister has listened to our demand,” he said.

Pariat said the hike would especially benefit senior workers.

“It will help us for another 2 years to get it, especially the workers, who have been vocal that they need the 2 years which is most essential for educating their children, as well as for their old age,” he said.

Turning to EPF coverage, he said the CM had agreed in principle during an April 9 meeting. “The most important is EPF. On this, the JAC has submitted a written representation, and during the meeting with the chief minister on April 9, from his side he agreed that the Central government has already said that all daily wage workers, in departments, in companies, contractors who have more than 20 workers, must be given EPF,” Pariat said.

“The Labour Commissioner has also issued written instructions to departments that EPF must be implemented,” he added.

Calling EPF “the most important assistance” for workers, Pariat urged officials to act.

“As the chief minister has said it must be implemented, from our side we also request all officers, engineers that EPF must be implemented,” he said.

He also asked workers to participate.

“If EPF is implemented, daily wage workers must come forward to request officers to implement it. We will contribute that 12% from our side which we are supposed to get,” he said, adding, “There is also pension in EPF.”