Migrant Workers

Migrant workers in Lebanon trying to return home after alleged abuses, war

Isatta Bah wakes up from a nap in a crowded shelter on the outskirts of Beirut, clutching her baby, Blessing. The 24-year-old from Sierra Leone spends her days waiting for an exit visa that could put her and her 1-year-old on a plane back to the West African nation. She wants to reunite with her family after what she called exploitative work conditions and sexual violence, along with the recent horrors of war in Lebanon. My experience in Lebanon is not good for me. I am really tired, Bah said. I want to go home. Hundreds of migrant workers in Lebanon are waiting to be repatriated after the ceasefire ending the 14-month war between the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Israel went into effect last month. Lebanon has long drawn migrant workers dreaming of building better lives for their families. Enticed by promises of stable jobs and decent pay, they enter Lebanon via recruitment agencies under a sponsorship-based labour system known as Kafala only to find themselves often trapped with .

J&K terror attack: Vital infra targeted, Shah pledges action; key updates

The terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on workers from a private company at the under-construction Z-Morh tunnel in J&K's Gund area, which connects Gagangeer to Sonamarg in central Kashmir

Have lost our patience: SC to states on delay in ration card to migrants

We have lost our patience, the Supreme Court has said while expressing concern over delay by the states and Union Territories in providing ration card to the migrant workers. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah granted a final opportunity to the Centre, states and Union Territories (UTs) to take necessary steps in this regard by November 19. "We have lost our patience, we are making it very clear that there will be no more indulgence. "We are giving you one last window to comply with our order or your secretary will remain present," the bench said. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, informed that only one ration card is issued per priority household under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. The top court was hearing a suo motu case registered in 2020 after taking cognizance of problems and miseries of the migrant labourers during COVID. The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to file an affidavit giving details about compl

Pope Francis urges leaders in S'pore to seek fair wages for foreign workers

These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage, he said

SC asks Centre to apprise on compliance of verdict on measures for migrants

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to file an affidavit giving details about compliance of its 2021 judgement and subsequent directions on providing ration cards and other welfare measures to the migrant workers. The top court, in June 29, 2021 judgement and subsequent orders, had passed a slew of directions to the authorities asking them to undertake welfare measures, including giving ration cards to all migrant workers, who were distressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, registered with the e-Shram' portal. The e-Shram' is a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) launched by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment with a primary aim to facilitate delivery of welfare benefits and social security measures to unorganised sector workers across the country. The Union of India is directed to file a comprehensive affidavit explaining the steps taken in compliance of the judgement dated June 29, 2021 and other subsequent orders. Such an affidavit will ..

Fire at South Korean battery unit kills 22, mostly Chinese migrant workers

A fire likely sparked by exploding lithium batteries swept through a manufacturing factory near South Korea's capital on Monday, killing 22 mostly Chinese migrant workers and injuring eight, officials said. The fire began after batteries exploded while workers were examining and packaging them at the second floor of the factory in Hwaseong city, just south of Seoul, at around 10:30 am, fire officials said, citing a witness. They said they would investigate the cause of the blaze. The dead included 18 Chinese, two South Koreans and one Laotian, local fire official Kim Jin-young told a televised briefing. He said the nationality of one of the dead couldn't be immediately verified. In the past few decades, many people from China, including ethnic Koreans, have migrated to South Korea to seek jobs. Like other foreign migrants from Southeast Asian nations, they often end up in factories or in physically demanding and low-paying jobs shunned by more affluent South Koreans. Kim also one .

Indian cities struggle with labour shortage amid Lok Sabha elections

With numerous well-paying opportunities back home during LS polls, including pamphlet distribution and providing tenting, vehicle services etc., many migrant workers have returned home

Indian women migrant workers to MENA region to reach 6 million: Report

With women-friendly policies in the UAE, the number of women workers from India to MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries, especially in the hospitality and construction sectors, are expected to witness a growth of over 71 per cent, blue-collar worker marketplace Huntr's senior executive said. "There has been a 23 per cent growth in demand for women migrants in 2023 in the MENA's hospitality and construction industries compared to the previous year. With more and more women-friendly policies like removal of restrictions during night hours, the demand is likely to surge 71.42 per cent in next 2-3 years," Huntr CEO Samuel Joy told PTI. The report by Huntr is based on a mixed-method combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews analysing a sample size of 1,00,000 blue-collar workers enrolled on the platform. Currently, 35 lakh women from India are working in the Middle East, which is expected to reach 60 lakh in next 2-3 years, in line with the growing demand, he ..

SC tells states, UTs to give ration cards to nearly 80 mn migrant workers

States and UTs are required to file a compliance affidavit in this regard. The case will be heard again in two months

Unstable platforms

Gig work urgently needs a legal framework

New York weighs rule changes to hire thousands amid migrant crisis

To make these jobs more accessible, the state is proposing to create "transitional" titles with requirements more in line with the candidates' qualifications

Rajasthan announces one-time payment of Rs 5,000 for registered gig workers

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday announced a one-time payment of Rs 5,000 for gig workers to purchase helmets, uniforms and other items of daily use when they register with the state government. The announcement will benefit delivery personnel working with companies such as Ola, Uber, Swiggy and Zomato, among others. "The gig workers will get Rs 5,000 as a one-time payment on registration," Gehlot said during a function to release the "Mission 2030" document in Jaipur. He also announced a 90 per cent fare exemption on Rajasthan Roadways buses for those with monthly passes. The government will also set up a ministerial employees directorate to handle all works related to ministry staff -- including promotions, transfers and postings -- in different departments, the chief minister announced.

2 workers killed, 1 injured in explosion at spare-parts factory in Noida

Two workers died and another suffered injuries after a pressure pipe exploded at a spare parts-manufacturing company in Noida, police officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday inside the factory of United Drilling Tools private limited located in Sector 81, under Phase 2 police station area, they said. "Three workers suffered injuries and were taken to a hospital where two were declared dead by doctors while the third is undergoing treatment," a police spokesperson said. Those killed in the explosion have been identified as Manoj Kumar Singh, 45, and Ishwar Dutt Sharma, 60, while the injured worker is Rajveer Singh, 45, the official said. The bodies were sent for postmortem and other legal proceedings were being carried out in the case, the police said.

Bihar cabinet doubles ex gratia amount for death of migrant workers outside

The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to a proposal to double the ex gratia amount to Rs 2 lakh for the death of migrant workers from the state in other parts of the country and abroad. Family members of deceased migrant labourers from Bihar used to get Rs 1 lakh as an ex gratia amount, which was last revised in 2008, an official said. The decision to hike the ex gratia amount was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Talking to reporters, Additional Chief Secretary S Siddhartha said, "The state government has decided to increase the ex-gratia payment for the death of Bihar's migrant labourers in the event of a natural disaster or accident in other parts of the country or abroad within 180 days of the event." The proposal was placed before the cabinet by the state labour resources department. "There was a provision of providing ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh only to the family members of deceased migrants. It was last revised in 2008. Now, they will get an

Goa issued licences to more than 7,000 migrant workers since 2019: Minister

The Goa government has issued licences to more than 7,000 migrant workers under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 over the last four and a half years, state Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte informed the legislative assembly on Monday. In a written reply to a question by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, the minister said 7,192 migrant labourers were issued licences since 2019 under the Inter State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1979 and the Rules made thereunder. As per the annexure provided on the floor of the House, 49 licences were issued covering 2,292 migrant labourers in 2019, followed by 26 covering 1,328 labourers in 2020, 26 licences for 1,477 labourers in 2021 and 31 for 1,702 in 2022. The state government has issued six licences covering 393 labourers so far this year, the reply stated. The identification of migrant workers is being done strictly in accordance with provisions of the Inter State Migrant Workmen ...

Gurugram-Nuh violence: Authorities assure migrant workers of safety

In a bid to stop the exodus of migrant workers from the city, district authorities Saturday visited a few slum areas and urged the labourers to go for their daily work without any fear. Number of workers started fleeing to their native places in different states in view of violence that flared up here and in Nuh earlier in the week. Gurgugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav Saturday visited the slums near Sector 58 and 70 here as part of the ongoing exercise to build confidence among common people about their safety, along with maintaining law and order. "The situation here is peaceful now and there is no need to panic," Yadav said. He urged the slum residents to go about their daily activities without any fear and assured them of their safety. Interacting with the migrant workers, the DC told them that if anyone threatens them to leave the place, they should immediately inform the district administration and the nearest police station so that appropriate legal action can

Lanka grants over 100 electric vehicle import permits to migrant workers

Sri Lanka's Labour said on Sunday that it has granted 111 electric vehicle (EV) import permits under a new programme designed to facilitate Sri Lankan migrant workers in remitting

Registration of migrant workers, vendors, hawkers mandatory in Hamirpur

The registration of migrant workers, street vendors, hawkers and other outsiders temporarily living in different areas of this Himachal Pradesh district has been made mandatory to maintain law and order, an official said on Sunday. Issuing an order in this regard, the District Magistrate (DM) Hemraj Bairwa said a large number of labourers, street vendors and hawkers and other people from outside states come to work in the district and they often live in rented houses or at various construction sites. The orders have been issued to prevent any kind of untoward incidents in the district and to maintain law and order, he said adding that police often find it difficult to investigate cases involving outsiders as their details are not available and therefore registration is important. The DM has also ordered all the contractors and businessmen to get all their workers registered at their nearest police station. The locals have also been instructed to ensure the identity and registration

Migrant workers in London face 'shocking' levels of exploitation: Report

"These sectors often have a high percentage of management positions held by men which can act as a barrier to reporting harassment," the report said

In shadow of migrant deaths: Qatar minister to head UN labour conference

Qatari officials say stronger regulations over work conditions have been imposed under the reforms