COMPARISON OF SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL MIGRANT AND LOCAL LABOURERS

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1 CHAPTER IX COMPARISON OF SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL MIGRANT AND LOCAL LABOURERS In order to study the socio-cultural and economic conditions of industrial migrant labourers it becomes important to compare them with the similar conditions of the local labourers. The comparison helps in understanding as to how far has migration affected the migrants. Also, it helps in understanding which and how the conditions of these labourers differ from the locals who are supposed to be more respected and trusted by the local society. This further indicates the scope of improvement on the part of the locals so as to retain them in our society. (i) Socio-cultural Status The Table 9.1 shows that as many as per cent of migrant labourers working in various industrial units of the city were males as compared to per cent male industrial local labourers. Majority of the industrial migrant labourers working in Ludhiana city (36.20 per cent) belonged to the age group of years, whereas percent of the industrial local labourers working in the same industrial units belonged to the same age group. Majority of migrant labourers (35.60 per cent) belonged to the age group of years, while per cent of the industrial local labourers belonged to the same age group. As many as per cent and 8.80 per cent of the industrial migrant labourers belonged to the age group of years and above 48 years respectively, whereas the percentages of the industrial local labourers belonging to the same age group were and 7.00 respectively. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers were married as compared to only per cent of the industrial local labourers. There was no widow/widower in the sample during the survey. Of the total 161 industrial migrant labourers who were married, only per cent had working wives, whereas of the 120 industrial local labourers who were married, per cent had their working wives. A larger percentage of industrial local labourers with working wives indicate the compulsion to improve economic status. As much as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers were illiterate, while the percentage of the same for industrial local labourers was only The percentages of 247

2 Table 9.1 Distribution of Industrial Migrant and Industrial Local Labourers according to Comparison of Social and Cultural life Migrant Status Labourers Local Labourers Significance No. Percentage No. Percentage Sex 200 Male Female Age (Years) More than Marital Status Married Unmarried Working Wife in Ludhiana City Yes No Educational Status Illiterate Primary Middle *** Matric Above Matric Voter Card Yes No *** Influence During Voting Z-value Employer Union NA Friends Self *** Others You Invite Them At Family Functions Yes No *** Source: Field Survey, Note: *** Significant at 1 per cent industrial migrant labourers that were educated up-to the level of primary were as compared to 6.50 of the locals. The percentages of the industrial migrant and local labourers 248

3 that had education up-to the level of middle were and respectively. However, per cent and per cent of the industrial migrant and local labourers respectively, were educated up-to metric, whereas 5.00 per cent of the industrial migrant labourer were educated above the metric level as compared to per cent of the industrial local labourers. As much as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers and per cent of the industrial local labourers possessed voter cards. A smaller percentage of the industrial migrant labourers with voter cards indicate lack of awareness of fundamental rights & duties, lack of desire to be informed, lack of knowledge of one s contribution to the government, laziness and also no desire to choose one s leader, as compared to the industrial local labourers. As much as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers voted according to their own will, while this percentage was for the industrial local labourers. The percentage of industrial migrant labourers that voted under the influence of their employer was 4.81 as compared to 2.10 of the industrial local labourers. As far as social bonding between the migrant and local industrial labourers is concerned, it was found that as much as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers invited the industrial local labourers to their family functions or social ceremonies, while only per cent of the industrial local labourers did the same. (ii) Economic Status Table 9.2 shows that as many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers owned houses as compared to per cent of the industrial local labourers. The difference in these two kinds of labourers that owned a house was found to be significant as is evident by the Z value of As many as per cent and per cent of the industrial migrant and local labourers respectively, working in various industrial units of Ludhiana city had the provision of electricity at their houses (owned or rented houses). The chi-square value of indicates a significant relationship between the two types of industrial labourers and the provision of facility of electricity in their houses. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers had the provision of facility of bathroom/toilet in their houses, while the percentage of industrial local labourers that had the same provision was The chi-square value of indicates a significant association between the type of labour and provision of facility of bathroom/toilet at place of their residence in Ludhiana city. The chi- 249

4 Table 9.2 Distribution of Industrial Migrant and Industrial Local Labourers according to Comparison of Economic Status Status Migrant Labourers Local Labourers Significance No. Percentage No. Percentage Ownership of house Z-value Yes *** No Provision of electricity at house Yes No *** Provision of bathroom/toilet at house Yes No *** Provision of water supply at house Yes No Ownership of cattle/livestock Z-value Yes No *** Under debt Yes No *** Purpose of debt Z-value Education of children NA Consumption Construction & maintenance of houses * Social and Religious ceremonies * Others Saving (Rs.) t-value Nil Up-to More than Average monthly saving Average annual saving Source: Field survey, Note: * Significant at 10 per cent ** Significant at 5 per cent *** Significant at 1 per cent 250

5 square value of 1.55 indicates a non-significant relationship between type of labourers and provision of facility of water supply at the place of residence in Ludhiana city. The percentage of industrial local labourers that owned cattle/livestock was 20.50, while only 0.40 per cent of industrial migrant labourers possessed cattle/livestock. The difference between the two types of labourers was found to be significant as indicated by the Z value of Indebtedness is one of the economic indicators of the level of living of an individual. It was observed that as many as per cent and per cent of the industrial migrant labourers were indebted. There was a significant association between type of labourers and situation of indebtedness as indicated by the chi-square value of As many as per cent, per cent and per cent of the industrial migrant labourers had taken up loans for consumption purposes, construction & maintenance of house and social and religious ceremonies s. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers had taken up loans for other reasons like medical treatment, buying of farming implements and tools, travelling, digging up of wells or setting up tube-wells, etc. On the other hand, the percentages of industrial local labourers that borrowed loans for the above mentioned reasons were 11.90, 21.43, 9.52 and per cent respectively. The Z value of 1.76 indicates a significant difference in two types of labourers who took up loans for construction and maintenance of house. The percentage of industrial migrant and local labourers that did not save at all was and respectively. An individual earns for not only present consumption but also to save for future contingencies. Savings of an individual indicate towards financially secure future. The individuals who save are the ones who are financially aware. However, savings depend upon not only on the will to save but income and expenditure also. The percentages of the industrial migrant and local industrial labourers that saved up-to Rs. 500 were and respectively. The percentage of the same that saved up-to Rs was and respectively, while the percentage of those that saved up-to Rs was and 5.50 respectively; and that of those who saved more than 1500 was 7.00 and 6.00 per cent respectively. The reasons for lower savings on the part of the industrial local labourers can be explained by the fact that they had more expenses, larger size of families staying together, level of living and consumption was better off than migrant labourers. 251

6 (iii) Work Related Issues Since the industrial migrant and local labourers work at the same place it becomes important to compare their status at the work place so as to study the comfort and satisfaction level, of the industrial migrant labourers. The comparison was made for various aspects like choice of work, nature of employment, behaviour of labourers at the factory, hours of routine and overtime work and payment of wages there off, health and safety related issues, provision of benefits other than wages etc. The Table 9.3 shows that per cent of the industrial local labourers got work in the industrial unit according to their own choice, while the percentage of the industrial migrant labourers that got the same was The chi-square value of indicates a significant association between the type of labourers and work according to their choice. However, the chi-square value of 2.23 indicates non-significant relationship between type of labourers and status of employment (temporary or permanent) as per cent of industrial migrant labourers had permanent jobs as compared to per cent of industrial local labourers. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers reported to have got the work according to the skills they possessed, while per cent of the industrial local labourers reported the same. There was a non-significant relationship between type of labourers and their job according to the skills they possessed as indicated by the chi-square value of A higher percentage of industrial local labourers getting work according to their choice and also, being permanent indicates favouritism on the part of the employer for industrial local labourers though the employer gave various reasons for preferring the locals over migrants like, no language problem with the locals, more comfort level, complete knowledge about whereabouts of the city, etc. As many as per cent and 2.60 per cent of industrial migrant labourers expressed that the behaviour of the industrial local labourers was good and satisfactory respectively and the percentage of industrial local labourers that reported the behaviour of the migrant labourers to be good and satisfactory was and 5.00 respectively. However, none of the labourers reported that the behaviour of the counterpart was bad which shows adjustment and efforts to settle without any issues with the counterparts of the labourers. 252

7 Table 9.3 Distribution of Industrial Migrant and Local Labourers according to Comparison of Work Related Issues Status Work of choice Migrant Labourers Local Labourers Significance No. Percentage No. Percentage Yes No Permanent Employee Yes No Work according to skill Yes No Behaviour of labourers at the factory Good Bad Satisfactory Working hours 8 hrs More than 8 hrs Work overtime Yes No Number of hours of overtime Nil Less than 2 hours hours More than 4 hours Wages for overtime (N = 165) (N = 19) Yes *** *** 40.72*** No Table (contd.) 253

8 Prefer to work with other migrant labourers Yes No Comfortable at work place Yes No Health affected at factory work Yes No Provisions for safety at work Yes No Refreshment free of cost Yes No Uniform allowance provision Yes No Overall working conditions Good Satisfactory Bad Extra benefits other than salary Yes No Amount of wages < > Index of Wages *** 36.01*** 17.79*** 4.92** 26.99*** 4.23*** 10.39*** 12.03*** t-value 2.51** Table (contd.) 254

9 Distance of residence from work place In factory Less than 5 km km More than 10 km Monthly Expenditure (Rs)on Transportation to Work Place Nil Up-to More than Index of expenditure Source: Field Survey, Note: ** Significant at 5 per cent *** Significant at 1 per cent t-value 2.48** The percentages of industrial migrant and local labourers that worked for routine 8 hours in the industrial units were and respectively. There was a significant difference in the proportions of these two types of labourers who were working for 8 hours as shown by the Z value of A higher percentage of industrial local labourers working for routine 8 hours as compared to industrial migrant labourers indicate exploitation by the employer of the migrant labourers who were forced to work for more than eight hours without counting the extra hours as overtime work. Also, the chi-square value of indicates a significant relationship between the type of labourers and overtime work done by them. The significance was higher in the case of industrial migrant labourers as per cent of them were working overtime as compared to 9.50 per cent of the locals. The percentage of industrial migrant labourers that was working for less than two hours of overtime was as compared to 7.50 per cent of the industrial local labourers. The percentage of industrial migrant labourers that worked for two to four hours of overtime was as compared to 2.00 per cent of the industrial local labourers. A higher percentage of industrial migrant labourers working overtime indicate the desire to earn more by these labourers and also hard working and sincere attitude as compared to their local counterparts. 255

10 Of the total 165 industrial migrant labourers who had been working overtime, only per cent of them were paid wages for the overtime work, whereas out of the total 19 industrial local labourers who worked overtime, all were paid for the overtime work. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers preferred to work with other migrant labourers, while the percentage of industrial local labourers that preferred the same was The chi-square value of indicates a significant relationship between the type of labourers and preference to work with industrial migrant labourers. Majority of the industrial migrant labourers preferred to work with other industrial migrant labourers as they felt comfortable to work with and could easily relate with each other whereas, majority of the industrial local labourers did not do the same as they preferred working with other local labourers as they felt comfortable and could easily relate with each other. While analysing the level of comfort of the labourers at the place of work, it was found that per cent of the industrial migrant labourers felt that working at the place of work is comfortable, while per cent of them did not feel the same. On the other hand, per cent of the industrial local labourers were comfortable at the respective industrial units, while per cent were not comfortable. The chi-square value of indicates a significant association between the types of labourers and their comfort level at work place. A higher percentage of industrial local labourers were comfortable at the industrial units as compared to industrial migrant labourers. This simply signifies that industraial local labourers had a feeling of belongingness and security in Ludhiana city and the labour incharges and other labourers listened to and respected them. On the other hand, the industrial migrant labourers did not experience or feel the above mentioned phenomena. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers experienced an adverse affect on their health during routine work in the industrial units as compared to per cent of the industrial local labourers. The chi-square value of indicates a significant relationship between the two types of labourers and effect on their health. This can be related to the fact that more of the industrial migrant labourers worked overtime, did not get work according to their choice and skills and also, poor economic status which made them work and exert more than the industrial local labourers and thus, had an adverse effect on their health. A higher percentage of the industrial migrant labourers, that is, reported of non availability and access to provisions of safety at the work place as compared to of the industrial local labourers. There was a significant difference in the two types of labourers as indicated by the Z value of A higher percentage of the local labourers reported of having 256

11 access to the provisions for safety as compared to the industrial local labourers which indicates discrimination among the locals and migrants. However, if the provision of safety measures is related to the kind of work done then the existence of discrimination is ruled out. As many as 2.40 per cent of industrial migrant labourers and to per cent of industrial local labourers reported of getting refreshment free of cost during routine work. The chi-square value of indicates a significant relationship between the two types of labourers and provision of the facility of free of cost refreshment. The percentage of industrial migrant labourers that got the uniform allowance as was as compared to of the industrial local labourers. The Z value of 4.23 indicates a significant difference between the two types of labourers that got uniform allowance. A higher percentage of the industrial local labourers getting uniform allowance than industrial migrant labourers indicates discrimination against industrial migrant labourers as they were not given the uniform allowance. As stated by the employer, some of the labourers both local and migrant did not get the uniform allowance as they had joined recently. There was a significant difference in the two types of labourers regarding the overall working conditions as indicated by the Z value of As many as per cent of the industrial local labourers found the overall working conditions to be good, while only 7.00 per cent of the industrial migrant labourers felt the same. The percentage of industrial local labourers that reported about the conditions to be satisfactory was as compared to of the industrial migrant labourers. However, per cent of the industrial local labourers found the working conditions to be bad and the percentage of industrial migrant labourers reporting the same was The same working conditions being described differently by the two kinds of labourers is also an indicator of the level of comfort that one feels at the place of work which indirectly indicates less comfort level or non satisfactory treatment by the labourers at the factorys and employer. On studying the availability of extra benefits other than wages, the chi-square value of indicates a significant difference between the two kinds of labourers as per cent of industrial migrant labourers got the extra benefits as compared to per cent of local labourers. As many as per cent of the industrial migrant labourers as compared to 0.50 per cent of industrial local labourers got wages less than Rs. 2700, while per cent of industrial migrant and per cent of local labourers got wages ranging between Rs The percentages of industrial migrant and local labourers that were getting wages in the range of Rs was and respectively; and the percentages of those that 257

12 got wages more than Rs were and respectively. The index of wages for industrial migrant labourers was 2.46 as compared to 3.51 for industrial local labourers. The t-value of 2.51 shows a significant difference between the indexes of wages between the two types of labourers. This shows that local industrial labourers got more wages as compared to their migrant counterparts. As many as 7.20 per cent of the industrial migrant labourers resided in industrial unit itself as compared to only 1.00 per cent of the industrial local labourers, while percent and per cent of the industrial migrant and local labourers respectively, resided at a distance of less than 5 km. from industrial unit they worked at. The percentages of industrial migrant and local labourers that resided at a distance varying from 5-10 km. from the industrial unit were 4.60 and respectively, whereas only 2.80 per cent of the industrial migrant labourers and per cent of the industrial local labourers resided at a distance more than 10 km. The fact that majority of the industrial migrant labourers resided within a distance of 5 km. is explained by the fact that majority of them did not own a house in Ludhiana city and reside in rented accommodations. Also, majority of them did not own means of transport (cycle, scooter, etc.) and could not afford public transport for commuting to-and-fro the work place and thus, took up accommodation nearby to avoid expenditure on commuting. The percentages of industrial migrant and local labourers that did not spend any money on commuting to-and-fro the place of work and residence were 7.20 and respectively. As many as per cent and 2.00 per cent of the industrial migrant and industrial local labourers spent Rs. 500 monthly, while the percentages of industrial migrant and local labourers that spent an amount varying from Rs were 0.80 and 3.50 respectively. The percentages of industrial local labourers that spent an amount varying from Rs and more than Rs were and respectively, while none of the industrial migrant labourers spent the above mentioned amount. The index of expenditure for industrial migrant labourers was 0.94 as compared to 1.38 for industrial local labourers. There was a significant association between two types of labourers and index of expenditure on transportation as indicated by the t-value of A higher percentage of the industrial migrant labourers resided nearby the work place and thus, they spent less amounts on commuting to and fro the place of work and residence. On the other hand, as revealed from the field survey, a large percentage of the local labourers owned a cycle and thus, incurred less expenditure. A higher percentage of the industrial local labourers spent more than Rs. 258

13 1000 is justified by the larger distance between their place of work and residence. (iv) Behaviour of Employer and Related Issues It is important to study the comparison between industrial migrant and local labourers regarding behaviour of the employer and treatment at the work place so as to judge any discrimination or favouritism against the industrial migrant labourers. The foregoing analysis in Table 9.4 shows that per cent of the industrial migrant labourers expressed that the behaviour of their employer is good, while 2.20 per cent reported it to be bad and reported it to be satisfactory. Table 9.4 Distribution of Industrial Migrant and Industrial Local Labourers according to Behaviour of Employer and Related Issues Status Behaviour of employer Migrant Labourers Local Labourers Significance No. Percentage No. Percentage Good Bad Satisfactory Discrimination at the time of recruitment Yes No Discrimination at routine work Yes No Wages Refused Yes No Abuse/manhandling by Labour In charge Yes No Source: Field Survey, Note: ** Significant at 5 per cent *** Significant at 1 per cent 11.02*** 4.48** 6.35*** 9.90*** 11.64*** 259

14 The percentages of the industrial local labourers who expressed the above mentioned behaviours were 20.50, 6.00 and respectively. There was a significant relationship between the two types of labourers that expressed the behaviour met with from the employer to be good, bad and satisfactory as indicated by the Z value of As many as per cent and 8.50 per cent of the industrial migrant and local labourers respectively, expressed to have faced discrimination at the time of recruitment. The chi-square value of 4.48 indicates a significant difference between the two types of labourers and discrimination faced at the time of recruitment. As much as per cent and 9.50 per cent of the industrial migrant and local labourers expressed that they faced discrimination during the routine work. The Z value of 6.35 shows a significant relationship between the two types of labourers and discrimination faced by them during the routine work. The percentage of industrial migrant and local labourers that reported about refusal of wages for their work was and 3.00 respectively. The association between the two types of labourers that were refused wages was significant as indicated by the Z value of As many as and per cent of the industrial migrant and local labourers respectively, reported that they were abused and manhandled in the industrial unit during the routine work which indicates a low level of respect, mistreatment and exploitation met with by the labourers at the industrial units of which the migrants were worse off. To sum up, among the local labourers working in Ludhiana city, all were males while among the migrants that were working in the industries of Ludhiana city, some were females. A larger number of migrant labourers were married as compared to the locals, which explains their need to earn money to sustain their families. However, the need to earn more money and upliftment of the economic status was observed more in the locals as compared to the migrants as more of the industrial local labourers had their wives working in Ludhiana city other than the industries. The need of the locals to have more than one earning individual is explainable by the fact that they have more social obligations in Ludhiana city and are aware of good living and educational standards and thus required more money for the same. The educational levels of local labourers were better off than the migrant labourers. Also, they were more aware about their fundamental rights as more of them possessed voter cards and voted according to their own will as compared to the migrants. The locals have been staying with their families in Ludhiana forever and thus, owned houses which had all facilities like electricity, bathroom/toilet, water supply and durables that made life comfortable, as compared to of the migrants who did not have these because they 260

15 kept on migrating from one place to another and they needed to save money to remit back home. Thus, they took up rented accommodations or stayed in jhugis or kutcha houses. The local labourers lived with their families, had social obligations and were under a pressure to achieve a better level of living, thus, they were forced to spend more and save nothing or less amounts as compared to the migrants who migrate with the sole purpose of earning more and improving the economic status of their families back home. 261