Context

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) in India recently declared the e-Shram portal as the largest database of unorganised workers globally, with over 300 million workers registered.
• Launched in May 2021 in response to the Supreme Court's directive, the portal aimed to address the distressing plight of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a unified national database.
• Despite this ambitious initiative, challenges in its implementation and gaps in its utility highlight the pressing need for more robust measures to ensure social protection and inclusion for India's vulnerable unorganised workforce.

Historical Context and the Need for a Database

• The concept of maintaining a database for migrant and unorganised workers is not new.
• The Interstate Migrant Workmen Act (1979) mandated contractors to provide detailed worker records, and the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (2007) called for universal worker registration.
• Similarly, the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act (2008) proposed identity cards for workers.
• However, these efforts failed to gain traction, leaving millions of workers invisible to policymakers and the public.
• This historical neglect underscores the significance of the e-Shram portal as a potentially transformative initiative.

Understanding the Vulnerability of Migrant Workers

• Socio-Economic Exclusion
  • The lack of stable employment ties leaves migrant workers in a precarious situation.
  • Many are employed informally in sectors such as construction, agriculture, domestic work, and small-scale industries, where job security is almost non-existent.
  • Without formal contracts, they have little to no bargaining power and are frequently subjected to exploitative working conditions, including low wages, long hours, and unsafe environments.
  • The absence of unionisation further worsens their vulnerability, as they are unable to collectively advocate for better terms or working conditions.
• Challenges of Disenfranchisement
  • Due to the transient nature of their employment, migrant workers often lack access to fundamental rights like voting.
  • Many are unable to register as voters in their place of work, and their names are often missing from electoral rolls in their home states.
  • This disenfranchisement not only alienates them politically but also deprives them of a voice in decisions that directly impact their lives, reinforcing their marginalisation.
• Poor Access to Social Services
  • Access to essential services such as healthcare, education, housing, and social security is severely limited for migrant workers.
  • The lack of portability of welfare benefits across states means that they often cannot avail themselves of government schemes in their place of work.
  • For instance, migrant families may lose access to ration cards or healthcare benefits when they move to a new location.
  • Similarly, their children are at risk of losing continuity in education due to frequent relocations, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
• Stigma and Discrimination
  • Migrant workers frequently face stigma and discrimination in host communities.
  • They are often viewed as outsiders and treated with suspicion, which leads to social exclusion and sometimes even hostility.
  • This discrimination can limit their opportunities to integrate into local communities and access resources, further isolating them.
  • Women migrants are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and harassment, both at work and in their living conditions, compounding their struggles.

Persistent Challenges

• Documentation and Eligibility Exclusion
  • A significant challenge lies in the exclusion of workers due to inadequate documentation.
  • Many migrant workers lack essential identification documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, or voter IDs, which are often prerequisites for registration.
  • Additionally, issues such as unlinked mobile numbers, lack of permanent phone access, or inconsistent address details complicates their ineligibility.
  • For workers who are constantly on the move or live in temporary housing, these documentation requirements become insurmountable hurdles, effectively locking them out of social protection mechanisms.
• Technological Barriers
  • Although the e-Shram portal aims to simplify access through technology, digital illiteracy among unorganised workers poses a significant barrier.
  • Many workers, especially those in rural areas, are unfamiliar with online processes or lack access to smartphones and reliable internet connectivity.
  • This digital divide disproportionately affects women workers, who often have limited access to personal mobile devices.
  • As a result, many workers are unable to navigate the registration process independently, relying on intermediaries who may exploit them.
• Limited Portability of Benefits
  • The mobility of migrant workers creates a unique challenge in ensuring access to welfare benefits across states.
  • While initiatives like the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) attempt to address this issue, many schemes remain tied to a worker’s place of origin.
  • This lack of portability leaves inter-state migrants unable to access entitlements such as subsidised food, housing, or healthcare in their destination states.
  • Without seamless integration of welfare schemes across jurisdictions, a large segment of the migrant workforce remains excluded from critical support systems.
• Fragmentation of Social Security Systems
  • India’s social security landscape is highly fragmented, with multiple schemes operating under different ministries and departments.
  • While the OSS attempts to integrate these schemes, the process is far from complete.
  • Key welfare programs like PM Matru Vandana Yojana and Shramik Suraksha Yojana are yet to be linked with the e-Shram portal, leaving gaps in coverage.
  • Additionally, overlapping responsibilities and bureaucratic inefficiencies slow down the implementation of a cohesive framework.

The Path Ahead

• To fully realise its potential, the e-Shram portal must transcend its role as a mere registration platform and evolve into a comprehensive tool for empowering workers.
• This requires disaggregating migration data, enhancing portability of benefits, and integrating human development outcomes into program design.
• Non-profits and policymakers advocate viewing migrants as assets rather than burdens, emphasising their critical role in driving economic growth.
• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development warns that poorly managed migration can impede progress.

Conclusion

• Migrants and unorganised workers are indispensable to India's economy, yet they continue to await recognition and rights.
• The e-Shram portal and OSS are commendable steps, but achieving "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) demands well-designed social protection systems that prioritise inclusion and equity for this workforce.
• While the e-Shram portal has laid the foundation for addressing long-standing challenges faced by unorganised workers, its success depends on overcoming systemic barriers and integrating inclusive, sustainable policies.