A mapping study conducted by the State Government recently shows that Coimbatore District has about one lakh workers from other States who are employed in various sectors. And, the number is only growing as industries face shortage of workers.
With the recent incidents of crime related to migrant workers in the district, there is an effort to create a database of migrant workers. However, officials, trade unions, and industries feel the State needs to come out with a policy framework for migrant workers.
“Workers come from States such as Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and Manipur as the wages and living conditions are better here compared to what they have in their home town,” says an official here.
But, the social conditions and culture here are different from that of their home town and these workers need to be given counselling when they come for work.
Social audits
Exporting units have social audits that ensure that workers are provided basic facilities and training. Similarly, industries that manufacture for the domestic market should also look at counselling centres, guidance facilities for migrant workers. Incidents of crime involving migrant workers can be brought down when there are such facilities, the official said.
There are several challenges in creating awareness or training migrant workers. Most of them find jobs here through an agent who is from their State. The agents should also be involved in these efforts.
According to the industry, at least 50 per cent workers in small and medium-scale enterprises in the district are from other States and about 20 per cent of workers in micro units are from other States.
While some industries provide accommodation within the premises, many of them live in rooms rented out in the rural or semi-urban areas.
And, most of the workers come alone and do not bring their family.
In the plantation sector, some units check if the workers have any criminal record in their State.
In the case of micro units, the industries ask for an identity document of the workers.
“We employ them only through workers who are already employed in the micro units. If there is any effort by the police to create a database of the migrant workers, the industries will certainly collect the details from the workers in their respective units,” says J. James, president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises.
“Worker shortage is high among industries and industries train migrant workers when they join a unit. The units will certainly invest in counselling the workers too. But, the contractors and agents should be involved in this effort,” says V. Sundaram, president of Coimbatore District Small Industries Association.
According to M. Arumugam of AITUC, the Government should come out with a system to create a database of migrant workers and register them for the welfare schemes.
The contribution of migrant workers in any field is high in the State and the Government should ensure their welfare, he said.
