Migrant workers spooked at the spectre of another lockdown trigger a minor exodus

To win back the trust of migrant workers is clearly a herculean task. Mere lip service may no longer be enough. Some concrete steps are needed to encourage them to stay at their work places. In almost all the states, migrant workers suffer from prejudices harboured by local people. They also become victims of hostility because local people treat them as snatchers of their economic opportunity. In Maharashtra, they even blamed migrants for the spread of the second wave of COVID-19.

Access to healthcare facilities for migrant workers has always been ridden with numerous hurdles. In the last few years, health facilities have been increasingly linked to identity proof, address proof and documents. However, the problem with majority of migrant workers is that they are rarely supplied with documents. They work without documents from employers and therefore it is often difficult for them to prove their resident status. That is why they prefer to be at home for accessing health facilities at affordable cost. We therefore need to provide them healthcare facilities at their work places.

There must be a system in place to take care of their daily needs in case the second wave of Covid-19 necessitates lockdowns for longer periods. Relocking at present level has also impacted their earnings, and therefore we need to financially support them to ultimately support economic recovery in the country. We cannot dream of bringing back on track the derailed manufacturing and services, the demand and supply, the construction and consumption, and so on.

Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi have been indicating the large scale return of the migrant labours. The government must do something now exclusively for migrant labour to make them comfortable at their places of work to prevent another crisis which would be worse than the country suffered during the first wave of Covid-19 outbreak. The present wave is more serious and hence require wiser decisions, including on labour rules. Workforce must have a feel that their government is with them and they will get help in times of need.

(IPA Service)

Views expressed are personal