Migrants’ disaster: Many stayed again after employers gave advance pay

Express News Service
KOCHI: Even as round 4.5 lakh migrant labourers went again residence in the course of the lockdown from Kerala, many stayed again resulting from varied causes — one being the employers caring for them in the course of the interval.

Kishen Kumar, a local of West Bengal who works as a store assistant in Ernakulam, is one in every of them. He mentioned he stayed again after his employer promised to pay him his wage although there was no work for him because of the lockdown. “I continued getting my pay besides food and accommodation throughout the lockdown. So, I didn’t go back. Due to this, I could keep sending money to my family,” he mentioned.

Employers like Baiju T Elias, who owns plywood manufacturing items at Perumbavoor, shelled out Rs 5 lakh in pay apart from offering meals and lodging to his staff. “I have 150 workers working in two units. When the lockdown came into effect, I decided to keep paying them enough amount so that they could keep sending money to their families,” he mentioned.

After the lockdown was lifted and outlets and institutions reopened, these funds had been deducted each month by some employers. Many staff have now gone residence to rejoice festivals like Bihu, Baiju added. “A lot of them have gone back and all manufacturers are facing staff shortage. If they don’t return, the situation will become very dire,” he mentioned. 

According to Benoy Peter, government director, Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development, labourers who had introduced their households and had kids learning within the colleges too opted to remain again. “Going back home was not an option for them since it would have cost them a lot at a time when employment was scarce. Also, the children’s studies would have been affected,” he mentioned.