Shillong, Mar 17: The Joint Action Committee of the Meghalaya Muster Roll Workers Union will hold an indefinite strike beginning April 9 if the state government fails to initiate talks on their long-pending demands.
Today, hundreds of workers marched the city streets, which began from the premises of the State Central Library through All Saints and Barik, shouting slogans, “We demand our rights” and “Government, give us our rights.”
Key issues include a fixed retirement age, pending salaries, Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) and implementation of the new Labour Codes in Meghalaya.
“The chief minister hasn’t invited us for a discussion on our long pending demands and hence the protest will continue,” JAC adviser Khroo L. Pariat said.
According to the JAC, the non-implementation of the Labour Codes in the state has affected the muster roll workers under various state government departments, who are made to retire at the age of 58, while the new rules put the retirement age at 60.
The Labour Codes 2025 includes provisions for pension benefits, Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and other social security measures.
The new labour codes consolidate 29 outdated central labour laws into four comprehensive codes, passed by Parliament between 2019 and 2020 and notified for implementation starting November 21, 2025.
