Migrant labor issue

Migrant laborers are always the first ones to face the first brunt of economic instability, political upheaval, and social discord. Be it Marathi Manush issue or Assam exodus from Bangalore or the recent Corona Virus crisis. There is no social security provided to them. There is no political support because mostly they are not able to exercise their voting rights. Mostly work in the unorganized sector and survive on hand to mouth situation. Except for the white-collar IT workers, most of them are unskilled or semi-skilled working as household help, maids or factory/farm laborers in big cities and rich states of the country. Hence, any issue of labor reform would be incomplete without addressing their plights and without doing justice to their needs and rights.

In this context, the following are actionable suggestions worth pondering upon.

1. We should open a migrant worker's office in each district. It is like an embassy of outside laborers at the district level.

2. All migrants must compulsorily register in the migrant labor's office. Following database could be prepared for each migrant:

2.1. What areas do a person migrates and in which season?
2.2. How much do they earn and save during migration?
2.3. What kind of work do they perform?
2.4. What are the skills/semi-skills do they possess?
2.5. What is the duration of migration?
2.6. What is the home state, city, town, address?
2.7. What is age?
2.8. Do they possess a bank account? If Yes, what is their bank account?
2.9. What is their UID number?
2.10. Are they citizens of our country?

3.  All the businesses should also submit the name and aadhar of all the migrant workers employed in six monthly declarations. This will allow us in accounting informal economy in GDP estimation. 

This database can be prepared using the partial database available with the government and police stations. Rest data can be collected by launching a district-wise helpline number. Labor ministry can also play a constructive role in the pursuit.

This will help in the following 5 ways:
1. We can perform targeted campaigns in the future.
2. With the use of such a database, the government can provide money directly in the bank account.
3. It will help in the overall management of COVID and similar kind of future crisis.
4. It will bring some organization in the world's largest unorganized workforce.

5. Such offices can act as voting centers for migrant workers in the future so that they can become part of the political narrative.

It is blasphemous that we have not done this to date.  Now is the time to work on these fronts and help in delivering justice, rights, and quality of life to migrant workers.