For the protection, welfare and social security of migrant workers, the Labour Department has formulated the Chhattisgarh State Migrant Workers Policy 2020.
The Labour Department has in coordination with various departments formulated the policy to provide the migrant workers better employment opportunities through registration and database compilation.
Chhattisgarh is an agricultural state rich in natural resources and forest produce. As it has single crop farming culture, small and marginal farmers as well as the agricultural laborers migrate to other states for livelihood, an official statement said on Thursday.
Often in the hope of better employment and higher income, workers go to other states in search of work in brick, building and road construction, household work, industry as well as agriculture. All these are of seasonal, casual or full-time nature.
Despite their valuable contribution, migrant workers face exploitation and difficulties in the migrant state.
The Inter-State Migrant Labourers Act, 1979, is effective to protect migrant workers but it has no provision for registration of migrant workers.
Due to the unavailability of data about their residence, planning and planners, it became very difficult to locate the migrant workers and provide necessary immediate assistance in various states to facilitate their return.
It is necessary to create a healthy environment for the workers of Chhattisgarh so that they can work fearlessly in any part of India, the policy says.
Other objectives of the policy include simplification of operation in existing systems to increase accessibility to migrant workers, to strengthen management of information related to workers and to formulate a strategy for their welfare and safety.
A Migrant Workers Assistance Center (Labor Resource Center) will be established at the development block and district level. A cadre of "Shram Mitra" will be prepared for the operation of the labor resource center to work as labour entreprenuers.