Impact of Covid-19 On Migrant Worker
Impact of Covid-19 On Migrant Worker
One of the reasons behind the Human Rights Violation of State Migrants
workers in India are political and economic. State Migrants are outsiders in
other State, they do not vote and thus cannot put governments under electoral
pressure.
The Census of 2011 estimates the total number of internal migrants in the
country to be 45.36 crores. Professor Amitabh Kundu of Research and
Information System for Developing Countries has done a comprehensive study
of Economic Survey 2017, Census of India 2011 and NSSO data. He estimates
that there is a total of about 65 million inter-State migrants, and 33 per cent of
these migrants are workers1.
The covid-19 virus affected economic of every country in world wide. The
corona virus has a devastating effect on both government as well as private
sector. Many construction works were stop during this pandemic. The financial
condition of many companies goes to depression. This created a situation of
without earning profit, how to pay salaries to employees. Due to non- earning of
1
The Indian Express, Explained: Indian migrants, across India,
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coronavirus-india-lockdown-migran-workers-mass-exodus-6348834/
profit many companies cut half of the salaries of employees and many of them
fired employees from jobs.
The sudden shutdown of businesses has upended the lives of millions of migrant
laborers in Indian cities. Lockdown in India has impacted millions of migrant’s
workers. Lack of food and basic amenities, loss of employment, fear of
unknown and lack of social support were major reasons for struggle in this huge
part of population. Thousands of migrants have protested across the country, for
reasons ranging from demanding transport back home, quality of food served,
not being allowed to cross the border, and against government directives
preventing them to walk home.
Due to lockdown 383 people have lost there live in this punitive lockdown.
From road and rail accidents to starvation, denial of medical care, police
brutality, exhaustion and suicides, there have been hundreds of reported non-
coronavirus deaths2.
In terms of states, Uttar Pradesh saw the maximum deaths of migrant workers
with 94 deaths, while Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana saw 38, 16 and
11 deaths respectively. The cause of deaths in maximum number of cases was
found to be vehicle to vehicle collisions in which 70 migrants lost their lives.
2
https://thewire.in/rights/migrant-workers-non-coronavirus-lockdown-deaths
Speeding resulted in the death of 49 migrant workers while vehicle overturn
resulted in the death of 32 migrant workers 3.
On 26th March 2020, Uttar Pradesh one such viral video, shows a group of
young migrant workers forced to hop down a main road with bags strapped to
their backs, who were trying to return home amid the lockdown. They were
caught by the cops, who refused to listen to their pleas, and humiliated by being
made to hop and crawl in this heat4.
3
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jun/03/most-migrants-died-during-covid-19-lockdown-30-
savelife-foundation-2151565.html
4
Chitranjali Negi, Advocate Supreme Court of India, Human Rights Violations of Migrants Workers in India
during Covid-19 Pandemic
Supreme Court of India on Migrants Issues
The supreme court of India take a SUO MOTU WRIT PETITION 5 on condition
of migrant worker during this lockdown.
All the States/Union Territories shall take all necessary steps regarding
identification of stranded migrant workers in their State which are willing
to return to their native places and take steps for their return journey by
train/bus which process may be completed within a period of 15 days
from today.
The State shall establish counselling centres, help desk at block and
district level to provide all necessary information regarding schemes of
the Government and to extend helping hand to migrant labourers to
identify avenues of employment and benefits which can be availed by
them under the different schemes.
The Central Government may give details of all schemes which can be
availed by migrant workers who have returned to their native places.
There are some legislations laws which we are going to see its very briefly.
5
SUO MOTU WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) No(s). 6/2020; IN RE : PROBLEMS AND MISERIES OF
MIGRANT LABOURERS
6
The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
1. Life and disability cover;
2. Health and maternity benefits;
3. Old age protection; and
4. Any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government.
An officer can compound any offence punishable with fine and imprisonment
up to three months under these Acts committed for the first time, either
before or after the institution of the prosecution, on the realization of
composition fee as prescribed.
During pandemic many state governments has made many amendments related
to labours laws, some of the amendment are violating labour laws as
international guideline of labours laws.
Suggestive Steps
Uniform labour standards in the context of unorganized sector workers, like migrant
workers, should be implemented in rural and urban areas of India. It is necessary to
protect migrant and other workers in the unorganized sector by International labour
standards and also need to have a separate ministry for migrant affairs, dealing with
domestic migrants of India
Promote NGO initiatives and the formation of migrant worker groups to build an
active movement for effective awareness raising, networking, advocacy and lobbying
in order to prevent abuse and exploitation against migrant workers.
Submitted By:
Gaurav Singh.