Background

The Government of India declared COVID-19 a pandemic pursuant to which it declared a nation-wide lockdown which commenced on March 25, 2020. Necessary stringent conditions signifcantly impacted construction, manufacturing and other industrial establishments, resulting in economic hardship on the labour force. Consequently, many migrant labourers lost their source of livelihood and undertook arduous journeys to their hometowns. While many migrant labourers may have returned to their home states, they continue to face issues regarding their future prospects as well as their ability to beneft from well-intentioned welfare schemes of the Central Government. The COVID-19 crisis has brought to fore the plight of India’s socially and economically most vulnerable citizens, and the gap between implementation of welfare measures and their effectiveness at ground level.

Objective

The objective of this study is to identify the factors that have contributed to this humanitarian crisis and which continue to push India’s migrant labourers into a condition of extreme poverty. For this assessment, the study analyzes : –

a. If India’s legal framework adequately protects the interests of migrant labour; and

b. Were the welfare measures introduced by the Government of India effective in their penetration and if they alleviated the extreme conditions for migrant labourers.

To read or download the Executive Summary of the study click on the link below :

AZB & Partners | Executive Summary | Woes Of The Migrant Force : A Legal Analysis Of The Unprecedented Migrant Crisis During Covid | August 2020

To read or download the entire study, click on the link below :

AZB & Partners | Woes Of The Migrant Force : A Legal Analysis Of The Unprecedented Migrant Crisis During Covid | August 2020

Authors :

Ajay Bahl, Founding & Managing Partner
Rachit Bahl, Partner
Srishti Goyal, Senior Associate
Navdeep Baidwan, Associate
Guncha Dhiman, Associate
Deepika Soni, Associate