Registration of migrant workers mandatory: DC
In an effort to strengthen public safety in Sirmaur, District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Sumit Khimta has invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, issuing strict regulations for the employment and movement of migrant workers within the district. These measures aim to ensure mandatory identification and verification before employing or engaging any migrant worker for informal tasks or services.
Under the new order, no employer, contractor, or business entity can engage migrant labourers in informal employment without submitting the worker’s complete details, including a passport-sized photograph, to the designated field officer for verification. Additionally, migrant workers seeking self-employment or informal trade, such as street vending, are required to report to the local police station chief upon entering the district.
The directive warns that violations could lead to punitive action against both the migrant worker and the employer under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. This initiative aims to enhance crime prevention and ensure public peace by maintaining a record of migrant workers, who often lack proper identification, making it difficult to monitor their activities.
Khimta highlighted that Sirmaur attracts a large number of migrant workers engaged in various informal sectors like street vending, contract labour, and services such as cobbling and shawl selling. Many of these workers fail to undergo proper identification processes, creating potential risks to public safety and property. “It is essential to act quickly to prevent anti-social elements from using job-seeking as a cover to disrupt peace and safety,” Khimta emphasised.
The order, effective until December 2, is aimed at mitigating potential threats and enhancing the district’s overall safety by ensuring that all migrant workers are properly accounted for. Any violations of these regulations will be subject to penalties under the law.
