Sikkim Government Mandates Adequate Housing and Health Support for Migrant Workers

Gangtok: The Sikkim government has directed all companies operating in the state to provide proper accommodation and healthcare facilities to their migrant workforce. Labour Secretary Bhim Thatal, in an official directive issued on Wednesday, asked employers to comply with Section 16(d) of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1983. The provision mandates companies to offer suitable residential facilities for all registered migrant workers. “There is a need to ensure suitable residential accommodation to migrant workers in order to facilitate their wellbeing and to uphold their rights for safe, healthy and hygienic living conditions during employment, giving due importance to their mental health,” Thatal said in the order.

The directive has been sent to plant heads, project managers, general managers, HR personnel, contractors, service providers, pharmaceutical companies, distilleries, and other commercial entities operating in the Himalayan state. Highlighting Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s concern over the cramped and often substandard living conditions of migrant workers, the Labour Secretary emphasized the adverse impact such conditions have on their mental health and overall wellbeing.

In addition to providing decent accommodation, employers have also been instructed to:

• Ensure regular and timely payment of wages

• Provide free medical care

• Supply protective clothing and safety gear at the workplace

• Support the workers in adjusting to a socio-economic environment different from their native states

The Labour Department has asked all companies to ensure strict compliance with these guidelines and submit a compliance report at the earliest. 

According to officials, around 50,000 migrant workers are currently employed in Sikkim across various sectors, making this directive a crucial step toward safeguarding their rights and improving their quality of life.