The Union Home Ministry on Sunday directed the States to maintain a register of all migrant labourers in their camps and conduct their skill mapping to engage them in suitable sectors. The Ministry also asked the States to create a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for movement of the labourers within the State and made it clear there would no movement of them outside the State.
In a detailed circular, the Home Ministry urged the States to find the skills of these stranded labour and explore the possibilities of engaging them in other sectors including MNREGA and industrial works.
“Due to the spread of COVID-19 virus, workers employed in industry, agriculture, construction and other sectors have moved from their respective places of work, and are housed in relief/ shelter camps being run by State/ UT Governments. Since additional new activities, outside the containment zones, have been permitted in the consolidated revised guidelines with effect from 20th April 2020, these workers could be engaged in industrial, manufacturing, construction, farming and MNREGA works,” said the circular.
“In order to facilitate their movement within the State/UT, the following guidelines may be followed: The migrant labourers currently residing in relief/ shelter camps in States/UTs should be registered with the concerned local Authority and their skill mapping be carried out to find out their suitability for various kinds of works. In the event, that a group of migrants wish to return to their places of work, within the State where they are presently located, they would be screened and those who are asymptomatic would be transported to their respective places of work,” added the circular, reiterating that there shall be no movement of labour outside the State where they are currently located.
The Ministry said that during the journey by bus, it would be ensured that safe social distancing norms are followed and the buses used for transport are sanitized as per the guidelines of the Health authorities. The local authorities shall also provide for food and water etc., for the duration of their journey, said the Home Ministry.