Migrant Workers in India

Context: The recent case of alleged assault on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu has once again brought attention to problems that migrant workers face in the country.

Who is a Migrant Worker?

• A migrant worker is a person who migrates within a home country or outside it to pursue work. Migrant workers usually do not have the intention to stay permanently in the country or region in which they work.
• In India, Migrant workers usually refer to those who engage in internal migration within the country, often for the purpose of seeking employment.
  • Internal migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another within the same country.
• Internal Migration in India:
  • As per census 2011, the total number of internal migrants in India is 36 crore or 37% of the country’s population.
  • The Economic Survey pegged the size of the migrant workforce at roughly 20 per cent or over 10 crore in 2016.
  • Major origin states of internal migration: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
  • Major destination states of internal migration: Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Punjab.
  • Sectoral composition: The share of migrant workers is the highest in construction sector for females while highest number of male migrant workers are employed in public services (transport, postal, public administration services) and modern services (financial intermediation, real estate, renting, education, health).

What are the Problems Faced by Migrant Workers in India?

• Lack of job security: Migrant workers often work in unorganized and informal sectors with low wages and no job security. They are vulnerable to exploitation, including being paid less than minimum wages, being forced to work long hours, and being subjected to unsafe working conditions.
• Social exclusion: Migrant workers are often stigmatized and discriminated against due to their ethnicity, language, and cultural differences.
• Lack of legal protection: They often face difficulties in accessing justice when their rights are violated. They are not covered by most labour laws and do not have access to social security benefits.
• Inadequate living conditions: Migrant workers often live in crowded and unhygienic living conditions, with limited access to sanitation facilities. This makes them vulnerable to diseases and illnesses.
• Lack of access to education: Migrant children often face challenges in accessing education due to language barriers and discrimination. Many of them drop out of school to support their families.
• Exploitation by middlemen: Migrant workers often rely on middlemen or labour contractors to find work, who take advantage of their vulnerable position by charging high fees and forcing them to work in unsafe and exploitative conditions.
• Lack of coordination among states: There is inadequate coordination among states on a formal exchange of information on migrant workers. In the absence of data, it is difficult to track labourers during times of crisis.

What is the Legal Framework for Migrant Welfare?

• The Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 looks into the welfare of the labourers.
  • Key provisions of the act:
    • The Act mandates that the establishment which proposes to employ migrant workers be required to be registered with destination states.
    • Contractors will also have to obtain a license from the concerned authority of the home states as well as the host states.
  • Issues with the Act:
    • In practice, this Act has not been fully implemented.
    • This Act has been subsumed into the four broad labour codes notified by the Centre: The Code on Wages, 2019; The Industrial Relations Code, 2020; The Code on Social Security, 2020; and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. These have not been implemented yet.
  • States which have tried to implement the Act:
    • Andhra Pradesh and Odisha: In 2012, with the help of the International Labour Organisation, a MoU was signed between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to track labourers migrating from 11 districts of Odisha to work in brick kilns in then-united Andhra Pradesh.
    • Kerala: Kerala has set up facilitation centres for migrant workers whom the state refers to as “guest workers”. These facilitation centres maintain data regarding migrant workers arriving in Kerala as well as help migrant workers navigate any problems they might face.

Initiatives by the Government for the Welfare of Migrant Workers

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