Problems of Migrant Workers in India: A Post Pandemic Scenario

Abstract

Migrant workers are seen to be the most vulnerable members of the communities in which they live and work. They leave one place for another in search of employment, better wages, a decent living, or to be close to family or friends. Many suffer severe violations of their human rights, including ill-treatment by law enforcement authorities, abusive or exploitative working conditions, low wages, lack of fundamental workplace rights and protections, limited access to social security, systemic discrimination and wide-spread xenophobia and prejudice. During the post pandemic lockdown, they confronted with most severe sufferings of their life and history. The present paper is to discuss and analyse the problems of inter-state & intra-state migrant workers’ in India post declaration of nationwide lockdown by the Central Government due to the Covid- 19 pandemic. This paper concludes that the existing laws to protect the migrant workers have become lifeless. In the last 40 years, neither has it been effectively enforced nor any steps have been taken for its revival. Proactive measures are required to pour life into it. These laws may be made effective by requiring the establishment to submit all the details of migrant workers to the appropriate authority. The Government should ensure safe and healthy living, good working conditions along with just and fair wages to migrant workers.