Context:

India’s effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic has gone into disarray after thousands of migrant workers started fl outing lockdown rules to head to their homes.

Types of internal migration:

• Labor migration fl ows include permanent, semi-permanent, and seasonal or circular migrants.
• Permanent migrants: They move from one place to another and have no plans to return to their original home.
• Semi-permanent migrants: They have precarious working condition, or lack the resources to make a permanent move. While they may reside in their destination cities for years or decades, they likely have homes and families in their native district.
• Seasonal or circular migrants: They are likely to move from place to place in search of employment, or to continue returning to the same place year after year. Such circular fl ows encompass migrants who may stay at their destination for six months or more at a time and hence need social services at their destination.

Legal provisions for labours in India:

• The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
• Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
• The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970
• Payment of Wages Act 1936
• Minimum Wages Act 1948.
• Payment of Bonus Act 1965
• Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923
• The Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952
• The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security.

Migrant

• A person who moves from one place to another to live and usually to work, either temporarily or permanently.
• Migrants may move to take up employment or to be reunited with family members.