In a series of consultations with academic experts, Government officials (both current and former) and civil society organisations working with migrant workers, a set of proposals have emerged for effective and humane return of migrant workers to destinations of work.
These intellectuals and activists have appealed to Governments of source and destination States to urgently formalise a MoU that establishes mutual responsibilities and accountabilities of both State Governments. This will reduce the exploitation of migrant workers at the hands of contractors and employers, as witnessed during the Corona lockdown, they said, adding that such a mutual accord between Governments of source and destination States can be legitimately designed within the existing provisions of Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act 1979.
The Central Government must support and facilitate such a process of inter-State MoUs to improve the conditions of work and life for all migrant workers, especially women workers (who now constitute a growing number). There is already precedence of such an MoU between States of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 2012, they said.
The State Governments should also enter into MoUs which overcome exclusions of migrant workers from basic entitlements and social security. They also appealed to the migrant workers and their families to particularly ensure basic requirements like registration of all migrant workers at the source, where they live, through Gram Panchayats and Nagarpalikas.
At the destination location, a digital identity can be utilised to provide basic facilities like rental housing, Anganwadi, primary school (preferably in mother tongue of migrants), crèche for children, and other safety and menstrual hygiene facilities for women workers, they said.