Advisory Guidelines for welfare of Migrant Workers – Labour & Employment Ministry

Advisory Guidelines for welfare of Migrant Workers – Labour & Employment Ministry

Advisory Guidelines to States Governments for the welfare of Migrant Workers returning to destination states in the backdrop of COVID-19

1. 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.
2. 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. Further, the migrant worker should not be put to any financial burden on account of testing and any treatment/quarantine required to be undertaken by them.
3. 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.

1. 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 (enclosed). This information should be shared with Destination States/UTs.
2. 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.
3. This data should also be shared with the concerned Labour authorities to facilitate compliance with the existing labour laws relating to wages, occupational safety and health and working conditions.
4. The State Government of origin and destination States should ensure enrolment of eligible migrant workers in Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
5. The State BOCW Boards may be advised to incur the expenditure on account of payment of the premium for insurance schemes such as PMJJBY and PMSBY for eligible construction workers. Further, the registered workers in BOCW Boards should be encouraged to enroll under PMSYM and other welfare schemes.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

1. The employers should also be encouraged to provide one time transportation allowance/journey fare to migrant workers.
2. Employers should also be encouraged to provide wages as per the prevailing labour laws, facilitate provision for suitable housing arrangement and ensure enrollment of the migrant workmen in existing social security and welfare schemes.
3. 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 enrollment of the children of migrant workers in schools where they are staying must be ensured by concerned state government/UT.
4. The State Governments/UTs should endeavor to provide an online single window grievance redressal system including a toll free helpline number to assist the migrant workers in distress. Adequate publicity of this helpline should be ensured. The establishments should also be advised to display the helpline number where migrant workers in distress can lodge their grievances.
5. 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.
6. The State Governments/UTs should monitor periodical situations, circumstances and activities affecting the migrant workers and take proactive approach accordingly.

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