Tap into Work Supply Demand

Context: Mass reverse labour migration to escape the adversities of pandemic induced economic crisis has brought to the fore many unaddressed problems of India’s unorganised sector. 

Plight of Migrant Workers

• Unavailability of Centralised database of the migrant working population: in absence of collation and sharing of guidelines related to Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 by authorities.

• Private-sector employers, shy away from taking responsibility in absence of simplified labour laws.

• Uneducated construction workers: exploited by middlemen.

• Construction company owners avoid accountability and responsibility for regulatory compliances regarding workers' maintenance. 

• Lack of incentives for companies to train, upskill, and take care of migrant workers in the absence of assurance of their redeployment.

•  Liabilities like unionisation, deemed conversions to permanent status, etc, are also avoided.

Way Forward: Unorganised Workers Identification Number (UWIN) 

• It will have additional skill-related data that would not only protect but also help in upskilling and provide accessibility and will not be a duplication of Aadhaar but an augmentation.

Must-have features

• UWIN should include information about the language and locational preferences, family status for migration, and duration of migration. 

• Unification of database across panchayats, municipalities, districts, states and the Centre.
• The details of the ‘facilitators’, official or private, and the end-users would need to be part of the database. 
• Management of editing rights: through access control and responsibility and accountability for every interface should be clearly defined.
• Implementation and monitoring of health and hygiene regulations, security, and safety of those deployed.
• Continuous quality communication among government administration(s), employers, and the labour force.
• The end-employers would need to ensure safe living and working conditions for workers, and comply with the Minimum Wages Act.
• The local administration to ensure that all labour under its jurisdiction is accounted for in the central database.
• Regular updation of the database so that workers get access to welfare schemes like schools and health services.