- e-Shram Portal: Launched in 2021, it is the world’s largest database of unorganized workers, with over 300 million registrations.
- Purpose: Created to address challenges faced by migrant workers, especially highlighted during the pandemic.
Definition of Migrant Workers
- International Definition: According to the 1990 Convention, a migrant worker is someone engaged in a remunerated activity in a country where they are not a national.
- Indian Legal Framework: Defined under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979, which covers workers recruited in one state for employment in another.
Push and Pull Factors of Migration
Push Factors
- Economic Distress: Rural unemployment at 7.8% as of April 2024; declining farm incomes due to erratic weather.
- Healthcare and Education: Rural areas lack quality healthcare (79.9% specialist shortfall) and education (urban literacy at 87.7% vs. rural at 73.5%).
- Climate Change: 68% of cultivable land is drought-prone; Cyclone Amphan displaced 2.4 million people.
- Social Insecurity: Marginalized groups face discrimination and violence, driving them to migrate.
- Political Instability: Insurgency and violence, particularly in northeastern states, force families to move.
Pull Factors
- Job Opportunities: Urban centers offer better-paying jobs; cities expected to contribute 75% to GDP by 2030.
- Healthcare and Education: Cities provide advanced medical and educational facilities.
- Social Mobility: Urban anonymity allows marginalized groups to seek better opportunities.
- Improved Infrastructure: Urban areas enhance transport, housing, and connectivity.
- Global Aspirations: Exposure to global lifestyles increases migration desires.
Legal Framework for Migrant Welfare
- Key Legislation: Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 mandates registration of migrant workers but suffers from poor implementation.
- Labour Codes: Codes on wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety established.
Government Initiatives
- Central Initiatives:
- ONORC Scheme: Ensures food security for migrants.
- Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC): Provides low-cost housing.
- PM Garib Kalyan Yojana: Financial assistance and food security.
- e-Shram Portal: Comprehensive database of unorganized workers.
- State Initiatives: Kerala’s Facilitation Centres and Jharkhand’s Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative.
Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers
- Lack of Social Security: 90% of the workforce is informal; limited access to welfare systems.
- Exploitation and Wage Discrimination: Underpayment and longer hours common; 64% faced wage theft during the pandemic.
- Poor Living Conditions: Overcrowded and inadequate housing; 236 million slum residents in 2020.
- Documentation Issues: Difficulties in accessing welfare due to non-portable documents.
- Gender-Specific Challenges: Female workers face harassment and lower wages; trafficking cases remain high.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Portable Social Security: Create a system for portability of benefits across states.
- Formal Employment: Encourage formal contracts and skill certification.
- Affordable Housing: Develop rental schemes integrated with urban policies.
- Digital Access: Mobile apps to streamline access to entitlements.
- Gender-Sensitive Policies: Targeted measures for female migrants, including childcare support.
- Healthcare Inclusion: Mobile health clinics and safety programs for workers.
- Unified Policies: Collaborate among states for consistent welfare policies.
Vital Workforce: Migrant workers are essential for India’s economy; their welfare is crucial for inclusive growth. Need for Comprehensive Policy: A national migrant policy is necessary to ensure equitable opportunities and dignity for this workforce.