The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) has issued guidelines to States Governments for the welfare of Migrant Workers returning to destination states in the backdrop of COVID-19. The guidelines are as follows:
• The States/UTs may nominate a State level Nodal Officer and also district/block/tehsil wise Nodal officer for migrant workers to co-ordinate all the issues relating to them. The Nodal officers of the State of origin and the destination State/UTs may hold periodical review meetings (through Video Conferencing) on regular basis.
• The Government(s) of State of Origin and Destination State should ensure screening and testing of migrant workers as per the protocol devised by the Ministry of Health & family Welfare in respect of COVID-19.
• The State/UT of origin should provide face masks, sanitizer and soaps to the migrant workers at the time of screening before departing to the Destination State/UT.
• A proper database of migrant workers is a preliminary step in order to identify and protect vulnerability among them. For this purpose, the State of Origin should collect the data in respect of migrant workers in the prescribed format.
• The State Government of origin and destination States should ensure enrolment of migrant workers in various social security and welfare schemes of the State Government/Central Government. Further, the data in the format attached for workers not covered in any of the schemes mentioned therein should also be shared with Director General of Labour Welfare via e-mail [email protected] to facilitate coverage of such workers under social security schemes.
• The State Government of origin and destination States should ensure enrolment of eligible migrant workers in Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
• The State Government should ensure periodical medical examination of the migrant workers in coordination with the state/UTs heath department/ESIC/Hospitals and dispensaries under the Director General of Labour Welfare.
• The labour department of the State should be asked to educate and create awareness about social security and welfare schemes amongst migrant workers and the employers.
• Vulnerable migrant workers should be identified and provision for their ration in time of need should be ensured by the district administration under prevailing schemes of central/state government.
• The establishments should be advised to ensure availability of adequate quantity of sanitizers, face masks, soaps at the workplace and to maintain social distancing norms.
• The employers should also be encouraged to provide one-time transportation allowance/journey fare to migrant workers.
• The State Governments/UTs of destination and origin state/UTs must take all measures to prevent any adverse effect on the education of children of migrant workers. The enrolment of the children of migrant workers in schools where they are staying must be ensured by concerned state government/UT.
• The State Governments/UTs should endeavour to provide an online single window grievance redressal system including a toll-free helpline number to assist the migrant workers in distress.
• The State/UTs labour departments should be advised to ensure that the welfare provisions such as displacement allowance, provision for housing facility etc. mentioned in the Inter State Migrant Workmen (RECS) Act, 1979 are implemented.
• The State Governments/UTs should monitor periodical situations, circumstances and activities affecting the migrant workers and take proactive approach accordingly.
