I spoke to some migrant workers and wrote a piece on what the #COVID19 means for India's 471-million workforce.
They never felt more vulnerable than today and most of them have one question to ask, "will I be able to go home?". Thread follows:
Link: business-standard.com/article/econom…
They never felt more vulnerable than today and most of them have one question to ask, "will I be able to go home?". Thread follows:
Link: business-standard.com/article/econom…
Close to 81% of the workforce belongs to the unorganised sector, with hardly any social security cover and not covered under a majority of India's labour laws. 
With all businesses & transportation grinding to a halt during the lockdown, millions of migrant workers hardly have any choice on how to isolate themselves from the deadly coronavirus.
I met Shiv who was walking on foot from New Delhi railway station to Anand Vihar (11 km).
I met Shiv who was walking on foot from New Delhi railway station to Anand Vihar (11 km).
In India, the social security cover remains more of a privilege for workers. Unlike some other countries which follow a right-based approach giving social security to everyone in the workforce, India sticks to an employment-based plan.
Social security is limited to units employing a minimum number of workers. For instance, workers get insurance if they work in a factory of 10 and provident fund if they are employed in a unit of 20 workers. Acc. to 6th Economic Census, 98.6% firms employed less than 10 workers.
Indian PM Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown from Wednesday. Before that, 30 states already had it in place. We saw visuals of hundrends of migrant workers thronging the railway station to return home. No official count but there are estimated 100 million migrant workers.
The government has urged employers to allow workers to work from home and not reduce their wages. But it hasn't worked for 30-year-old Zeenat, who used to work in a garment factory in Seelampur. Stranded on road with her family, I met her near Anand Vihar bus station.
Zeenat, who belongs to a village in UP (didn't disclose), earns Rs 6,000 a month. Her employer won't give her paid leave. Forget paid leave, she hasn't received her monthly pay for 3 months. The fact that there was no work contract left her with no option but to head home.
Zeenat is among the 71% of workers earning regular income but with no written job contract. Workers like her run the risk of being terminated without any pay.
With companies downing their shutters, retrenchment and layoffs are likely to be the new normal. Here is what we know about termination rights, according to India's labour laws.
Talking about the healthcare facilities for workers, those who work with a unit employing 10 workers are covered under the Employees State Insurance scheme. But...
On Tuesday, the government's first intervention came. Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar wrote to all the states, directing them to transfer cash to construction workers from unutilised cess fund. This is meant for only 'registered' construction workers. business-standard.com/article/econom…
But Annu, a construction sector worker, will not be eligible for the benefit as he was hired through a contractor and doesn’t have an official identification card under the BoCW Act. He is from Madhya Pradesh and spent his 4th day on the roads of Delhi on Wednesday:
As I walked back towards my car to go to other places for reporting, Annu came running towards me and asked, "Will I be able to go home?"
- Thread ends -
- Thread ends -
I know I said the thread has ended but forgot to point out how even the formal sector workers in India (though limited in numbers) are vulnerable during this crisis due to India's archaic labour laws:
More shocking visuals of the plight of migrant workers who have been forced to walk hundreds of kilometers back home from cities due to the #COVID19 lockdown.
