Having spent multiple weeks on a nationwide de quarantine, bringing its economy to a screeching halt. Today entrepreneurs & exporters are facing the major challenges of labor due to Surprise Migration of Labour Force Due to COVID-19.
After complete lockdown for weeks workers have started migrating to their villages. This reverse migration is creating an acute shortage of skilled, semi-skilled & unskilled labors in all sectors.
For your information close to 50% of India’s GDP is contributed by the labor of the unorganized sector. 90% of India’s workforce is contributed by unorganized sectors.
Read this article Employee Retention
Migrant workers impact short of labours affected more severely on the lower-income households. They were unsure about the status of their employment, and the source of income.
A natural step in the nationwide quarantine announcement was the closure of public transport facilities. Further declared by sealing their borders, causing droves of migrants to resort to walking back to their native homes.
PAINS OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Migrant workers impact short of labour spreads globally like fire in the forest. Everyone is trying to maintain social distance to avoid the spread of virus infection. India’s condition is no different from other nations.
In India, however, the death rate is still less compared to other countries. But in addition to the COVID-19 problem, India is addressing other important issues too.
On 23rd March 2020, the government announced lockdown, and later, it had extended up to 17th May 2020. Lockdown was a necessary move and the only way to combat the COVID-19 by maintaining social distance.
Offices, schools, markets, railroads, buses, building sites, all were closed. The brand new slogan “Stay Home Stay Safe” came into existence, but if somebody doesn’t have a house? We forget that certain people live far from their homes, the migrant labours.
Migrant workers impact short of labour. The biggest numbers of Migrants are from UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, West Bengal, etc.
But nowadays, a new variety of exploitation can be seen during this lockdown. The state governments have neglected migrant workers. During this situation of the COVID-19, the government is trying to help them.
Migrant workers impact short of labours. The question arises that how many are labours are entitled as beneficiaries. Answers are only the employees working in an organized sector and on company payrolls.
Usually, we don’t recognize as a formal industry. Where daily a series of activities happening around us. Newspaper, flowers, street food counters, books store on the street. All are labeled as an unorganized sector.
Migrant workers are divided into two parts one from the organized sector and second from the unorganized sectors. Just for your information that close to 50% of India’s GDP is contributed by these unorganized sectors. 90% of India’s workforce is contributed by unorganized sectors.
Even their employers & company labour contractors wipe their hands from their responsibility and there was no preparedness to help them. COVID-19 has thrown the lives and livelihoods at stake.
Migrant workers impact short of laborers. The big reasons they have to share a 10 x 10 feet room with 20 roommates. All these pains are without food, without money, and life’s of their family members at high risk.
The cost of lives to travel back to their homes is paid by workers. They are going by hiding in a cement container truck, or for miles walking on the roads.
There are no buses and trains travel in such a way that they are left no choice. They walk hundreds of miles in this heat without proper water, food, and money or basic amenities.

Indian Railway has deployed the first special train on 1st May 2020 (Friday). Till 13th May’20 approx. 600 + trains have been deployed for migrant workers. Why this action has not been taken just the very next day from the day of lockdown was declared?
Decease, fear of joblessness, lack of monetary resources, lack of support, unexpected healthcare expenses. All are the major concern facing by the migrant workers and their families which wake them from migrant crises.
The entire country is in deep shock with the road accidents of our Migrants workers. On 08th May’ 2020 16 migrants workers crushed to death by train in Aurangabad.
The 6-month pregnant woman is walking continuously from Nasik to Mumbai. In one other case, four members of a family met with a truck accident and died on the spot. Today only approx. 16-20 laborers lost their lives in road accidents. The stories are endless.
In some states government announced that workers are not allowed to leave the place, reason companies will be operational very soon, which converted in revolt and thousands of workers came on the road and retaliated against the state & central government policies.
It’s a prime responsibility of government to initiate actions for workers prior to or after the lockdown. India’s economic stability depends upon industries. Industries can’t work without their workers, so why they were ignored?
PAINS OF ENTREPRENEUR
In India, it’s an ongoing instability of the COVID-19 lockdown. The livelihood of many entrepreneurs and small business owners or unorganized sectors has been highly threatened.
According to a new survey carried out by Goldman Sachs. Business owners said they do not think they could smoothly operate business operations before six months.
The current situation is profoundly unsettling. Entrepreneurs are facing many challenges. Entrepreneurs have put their blood, sweat, and tears into holding they are dealing with burnout themselves.
I had lots of discussions with my entrepreneur friends, clients, business owners, and leaders. I’ve been able to pinpoint a worries of entrepreneurs are dealing to encounter the threats during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Filled with uncertainty, a crisis like the one we are facing now requires quick thinking. However, with such hard competition on the table, entrepreneurs find themselves struggling. Delaying decisions will only cause more problems, and it will take more decisions to fix those problems.
Entrepreneurs are struggling to ramp up their operations just as the government has eased forceful restrictions. Migrated laborers have imposed a virtual lockdown after their move to their home town in large numbers.
Business owners will need to keep updated from the local, state, and federal governments. Most importantly, details from an official source in the network.
Fear, anxiety, hopelessness experiences along with a lot of intense emotions during these times. Entrepreneurs have to follow the basic protocols within the limited labor and staff. Manufacturing companies will require maintenance after 52 days lockdown period.
After the maintenance, the company has to maintain the proper distancing between the labors. In this current situation with a lack of workers, production will maximum reach to 30-40%.
The first priority before operating the company will be the safety because it is the well-being of your employees. All protocols related to the COVID-19 to be maintained. Inform about your operations to all your stakeholders and the migrated labours. Make it a point to check it from your team regularly.
The next phase of returning to work is bringing new challenges for businesses. The government has been trying to open factories and sites.
GOVERNMENT/CORPORATES/NGO’s CONTRIBUTION FOR MIGRANT LABOURS
- The government is focused on the rural economy and unorganized sector in the second tranche of announcements today.
- Rs 20 lakh crore package is to revive the economy. Relief to small farmers, migrant workers, street vendors, small traders, the self-employed.
- State governments of all states have created adequate temporary shelters, food facilities, toilets facilities. Different schools, hospitals have been utilized for the same.
- Contribution of 6000 Cr. to Prime Minister’s relief fund for India’s fight against COVID-19.
- State-level municipal corporations, medical healthcare teams, police department are doing their work in an excellent way.
- The government declares automatic collateral-free loans for MSMEs from Rs 3-lakh Crore.
- NGO’s are playing a very important role to serve the quality food, water, medical kits.
- The government has released nearly Rs 30,000 crore financial assistance.
- PM — KISAN 6.93 Crore farmers will be benefited.
- Under the program, the government directly transfers Rs 2,000 cash to the bank accounts of the farmers.
- JAN DHAN – 19.86 core women Jan Dhan account holders received Rs. 500 each in their account.
- National Social Assistance Programme
- Building and construction workers fund
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna
- Ujjawala Scheme – Free LPG refills will be provided to 8.3 crore poor women.
- 50 lakhs insurance cover to all healthcare workers.
Conclusion
The migrant labor who all are the main contributors to our country’s GDP. What was their mistake? It’s like that the backbone is injured, and it’ll take time to be stable and to stand again.
Migrant workers impact short of labour, intentions of the government were not bad still our labourers are highly effected. Now the government should take care of the migrant labours which would help them to come back after this crisis.
Excellent view and analysis .