The easing down of restrictions, including permitting highly-skilled labourers to enter Meghalaya, following a long-drawn lockdown, has triggered opposition from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which has claimed that allowing such labourers could facilitate “influx”.

The union, through its office-bearers in South West Khasi Hills district, shot off letters to legislators representing constituencies falling under the region, asking them to oppose the decision to allow entry of highly-skilled labourers.

The state labour department had issued protocols and standard-operating procedures to be adhered to by employers who bring in highly-skilled labourers from other parts of the country into the state.

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

But the union has opposed these protocols and standard-operating procedures stating that these instructions would only open up the gates for employers to bring in “outsiders” into the state and the district.

“We oppose the decision to allow highly-skilled labourers to come into our state. This decision is like opening up the gates and welcoming them to Meghalaya,” South West Khasi Hills district Khasi Students’ Union president Forwardman Nongrem said in the letter to the legislators representing Mawsynram, Mawkyrwat and Ranikor constituencies.

Nongrem claimed that the union had found that many of the labourers have been misusing the term “highly skilled” just to gain entry into the state.

“We cannot accept the protocols and standard-operating procedures as announced on June 9 because they are only a means to facilitate the entry of inter-state migrant labourers by the employers. Instead, the government should concentrate on developing the skills of the local people,” he said.

He expressed the fear that influx could be aggravated by allowing the labourers to come in. Besides, he said it could also pose a threat to the fight against Covid-19.

“We do not believe that these people would undergo home quarantine or adhere to protocols as prescribed by the health department,” Nongrem said.

The union said the district would be better off if these labourers were not allowed to enter to prevent any spread of the virus.

The labour department has laid down that upon arrival, all workers will be screened and tested for Covid-19, and will be transported by the employer to the paid quarantine facilities where they will undergo quarantine till the test results are known.

Payment for the quarantine facilities will be made by the employers. Any individual who tests positive, will have to follow the protocols issued by the state health and family welfare department.

Those who test negative will be sent to the quarantine facility to be arranged by the employer and placed in quarantine for 14 days.

Post-quarantine, employers will ensure that workers stay within the premises, and that all social-distancing norms are strictly adhered to, among other precautions.