Skilled and highly-skilled migrant labourers will be quarantined upon arrival in Meghalaya, and their employers will have to ensure that each one of them is covered by a health insurance scheme.

This, among others, has been reflected in the standard-operating procedures brought out by the labour department to provide general guidance and information to employers to enable workers to return to work safely while keeping the risk of contamination as low as possible.

The government had earlier allowed local contractors/agencies to bring highly-skilled labourers from outside the state. This decision was flayed especially by pressure groups.

According to the procedures, employers will need to obtain permission from the respective deputy commissioners before bringing in the workers from outside the state and provide complete details of the workers, including their permanent address, current location and contact details.

The employers will have to submit an undertaking to the deputy labour commissioner of the district concerned, confirming adherence to the guidelines of the ministry of home affairs and protocols issued by the state health and family welfare department before the commencement of operations.

Moreover, after permission is obtained, employers will have to register the workers with the deputy labour commissioner of the districts, providing complete details of the workers, including their permanent address, current location, and contact details.

The employers will have to ensure that the workers are well aware of “return to work” plans and procedures before they move from their current location.

Upon arrival, all workers will be screened and tested for Covid-19 and transported by the employer to the paid quarantine facilities where they will be lodged till the test results are known.

The employers will also pay for the quarantine facilities. Any individual who tests positive will have to follow the protocols issued by the state health and family welfare department.

Those who test negative, they will be sent to the quarantine facility to be arranged by the employer for 14 days.

Post-quarantine, employers will ensure that workers stay within the premises, adhere to social-distancing norms and wear masks at all times.

The employers will need to ascertain that the workplace is sufficiently stocked with necessary sanitisation materials, and that water-stations are available in the site.

Besides, the employers will have to ensure that each worker is covered under a Health Insurance Scheme at their cost.