Thiruvananthapuram: While Malayalis are known for their penchant to go to far-flung places in search of jobs, it seems an irony that Kerala has now a whopping 2.5 million migrant labour population engaged for manual works in various sectors including construction.
Interestingly, the size of the migrant work force in the state almost matched the estimated size of Malayalis working abroad, especially in the Gulf.
Not just that, the workers-- mostly from West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Uttar Pradesh-- are pumping in about Rs 17,500 crore to their home states a year, according to a study conducted by the Gulati Institute of Taxation here.
The survey-- jointly conducted by Dr D Narayana, Dr C S Venkiteswaran and M P Joseph-- found that migrant worker presence in the state could rise as high as 4.8 million in 10 years going by the local demand, especially in construction sector which employs nearly 60 per cent of them.
About 75 per cent of the workers come from West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Orissa.
The study titled `Domestic Migrant Labour in Kerala`, tabled in the state Assembly on Friday by Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, said about 2.35 lakh migrant workers continue to arrive every year in the state.
The total remittances to home states through the banking channels are pegged at Rs.17,500 crore as over 70 per cent of them earn as wages above Rs 300 a day. The work force consisted of almost entirely single men of 18 to 35 years and they mostly work under contractors.
Besides the construction sector, they also find work in hotels and restaurants, manufacturing units, trade, and agriculture sectors. They include unskilled workers to skilled carpenters, masons and electricians and work for eight to 10 hours and are reputed for their dedication and sincerity.
Relatively higher wages compared to their home state and prompt payment are the vital factors that lure them to Kerala, a state known for paying labourers well. But in most cases they live shacks or in crowded rooms close to work sites with poor water supply and sanitation.
The study has recommended a common single-point one-time voluntary registration system to be executed by local bodies on behalf of the Labour Department.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.