Shillong, Nov 6: Casual workers of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) have urged the corporation to reconsider its decision to deploy casual employees engaged for 30 and 89 days through a manpower agency.
In a statement, the workers said they were appointed as casual employees in the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) for 30 and 89 days, with service continuously extended without break by the department and Chief Engineer (Distribution).
They said in the absence of a specific regularisation rule, the Meghalaya Fundamental Rules and other service rules should apply. Since 1993, casual or contractual employees with 10 years of service have been regularised in different districts, they pointed out.
The workers recalled a meeting on March 12, 2025, between the Chairman-cum-Managing Director, MeECL and the Co-ordination Committee of Registered MeECL Associations and Unions, where it was resolved to regularise contractual and casual workers phase-wise. The CMD had assured the policy would be worked out within three months.
They said they were shocked that despite this, the Board of Directors on September 25, 2026 decided that all casual employees engaged for 30 and 89 days would henceforth be deployed through a manpower agency. An office order was issued on October 23, 2026.
The workers said the decision would hit those who have served continuously for 3 to 5 years, as they would be treated as employees of a private agency and deprived of regularisation after 10 years of service. They also fear lower wages, as they now get Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 per month on minimum daily wages.
They have sought revocation of the September 25 resolution and the October 23 order on humanitarian grounds within 15 days.
