Migrant Workers and Kerala Society

Transcription

1 Migrant Workers and Kerala Society Benoy Peter, Ph.D. Executive Director Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development.

2 In-migration to Kerala: Challenges before the Govt. Lack of rigorous estimates Limited information of source areas Undocumented Bangladeshis Limitations of registration Public health challenges Human rights violations Challenges in social protection Perceived surge of crimes Exploitations/discriminations Rising Resentment from host community

3 Perceptions of the Kerala Society Emerging Social Hazard Crores going out of the state Communicable disease coming back Increasing crimes Competition for local workers Safety of the nation -infiltration

4 Impact of demographic transition in Kerala on Migration Source: Rajan and James, No Date

5 Migration Transition in Kerala Net in-migration to net out-migration. Out-migration to emigration Decline in emigration and outmigration Increasing in-migration

6 Migrant Workers in Kerala No robust estimate of circular migrants in the state Source: India Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand. Bangladesh Nepal 3-4 million migrant workers in Kerala?

7 Migrant Workers in Kerala Tamil Nadu Families, men, women Northern/Eastern India- young,single male, rural, backward communities Sectors- Infrastructure, plywood, manufacturing, hotels, fishing, brick kilns, quarries, agriculture now near universal Informal employee Naka Labour Type Captive Labour

8 Driven largely by social networks

9 Some of the Newest Migration Corridors in India Evolved over the past two decades Eastern India-Southern India Western Odisha (Odisha)-Ernakulam (Kerala) Murshidabad (Bengal) Ernakulam (Kerala) Nagaon (Assam) Ernakulam (Kerala)

10 Migrant Workers in Kerala Moved out due to : irregular work, low wages Moved in due to: better wages, employment opportunities, working conditions, presence of significant others Work for 10 hours or more, most of the days in a week Engaged in low skilled jobs Switches jobs/places frequently within destination Visits native place at least once in a year

11 Evolution and growth of migration: Case Study Labour Migration to Plywood Industry Kerala : Trends from Survey Data N Migrant Stock Orissa Assam Other Total

12 Challenges of Migrant Workers

13 Work Absence of social protection measures ESI GPF Leave Creche Other benefits Exploitation/ Harassment by employers/contractors Lack of protective wears Fluid wages, lower than local workers Dependent on contractor/employer Limited negotiation skills

14 Empowerment & Social networking Not collectivised Membership in political parties/trade Unions Membership in employee unions Limited membership/association in local cultural/recreational fora Constraints in communication Limited mobility beyond work settings Limited interaction with host community

15 Access to health/treatment Vulnerable to work and life related health issues - accidents/injuries, skin diseases, TB, etc Limited awareness about preventive measures Lack of IEC measures in migrant lingos Constraints in communication Long working hours preventing access to doctors Availability of other providers (chemists) Unavailability of peers to accompany to the doctor Public health facilities insensitive to migrant requirements Limited health interventions by Govt/NGOs/employer

16 Remittances Difficulty in keeping money/wages safely Absence of local address proof Banking services not migrant friendly Cheating by employer/contractor/fellow workers

17 Accommodation Free accommodation-makeshift/permanent worker camps Congested living No separate kitchen Own accommodation- depends on ability to pay Advance payments, no proof of payment, high rent Limited access to sanitation/safe drinking water Flooded toilets-disposal of septage a challenge

18 Exploitations Train tickets - middlemen charge exorbitantly Local travel- autos charge higher rates Market- Charges higher prices from migrants Violence: employer, contractor, natives, fellow workers Exorbitant rents Commission by contractors Limited access to Police/labour welfare officer Sporadic sexual exploitations

19 Limited or No Social Protection Maternity Unemployment Poor housing Unavailability of subsidised food Disability Accidents & injuries Limited scope for continued education of children Limited access to quality health services Death Sickness Limited access to formal banking and financial services Limited access to legal aid

20 Policies/Regulations on Social Protection for Migrant Workers Interstate Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 Right to Education Act 2009 Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).

21 Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 National Social Security Board constituted in 2009 National Social Security Fund 2011 Kerala State Social Security Rules 2010 Kerala State Social Security Board Yet to see results

22 Policy Challenges Govt Schemes Limited Portability of entitlements Lack of identity/local address proof at destination to avail benefits Complex processes and procedures inherent in delivery of benefits Poor implementation mechanisms Absence of an internal migration policy

23 Population Pyramids 2001 & 2061 Source: Rajan and James, No Date

24 Implications of demographic transition The state will inevitably have to depend on migrant labour and is likely to experience heavy in-migration of labour even from regions beyond southern India. Since this is unavoidable, Kerala ought to prepare well to accommodate such migrant labour who would play a vital role in the states economy in the coming decades.

25 Advantages of migrants in Kerala Better wages Sustained work opportunities Relatively pleasant weather Better accommodation/work environment compared to source Limited discriminations/exploitations based on ethnicity Limited trouble from host community Presence of strong social network

26 Some initiatives by the state Inter-state Migrant Welfare Scheme 2010 Kerala State Social Security Board Study of DML Shelters for Migrants Labour Policy: Registration of migrants Inspections-use of tobacco/drugs Ad hoc Health camps, campaigns Capacity Building Initiatives through KILE Insurance being planned

27 What could be done? Need more empirical evidence to understand migrant workers better Need serious deliberations on the issue State Migration Policy Involve migrant workers/representatives in planning Involve private sector/industries Corridor based interventions Proactive steps from trade Unions

28 What could be done? Active involvement of NGOs on the implementation front of migrant welfare programmes Source destination Govt/NGO collaborations Kerala Social Security Mission should also take up migrant issues Proactive efforts by PRIs Sensitise media Entitlement promotion campaigns among migrants Migrant sensitive banking and health facilities Migrant facilitation centres at major arrival points/nerve centres

29 What could be done? Train ticket booking centres at migrant hubs Accreditation of contractors/employers for compliance of labour welfare measures Accreditation of facilities given on rent to migrants Formation of CBOs among migrant workers Enhancing recreational opportunities Sensitising host community on the role of migrants in the local economy

30 Let us accept the realities. Migration is a survival strategy for these people It is also a coping strategy for Kerala An opportunity to intervene in the development of the source states while the migrants contribute to our economy

31 Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development P.M.C. V/223A, Thuruthiparambu, Perumbavoor Ernakulam District, Kerala, India Phone: ,