Covid-19 treatment cost must not fall on migrant workers: Govt tells states

Labour ministry guidelines say workers returning to cities must get housing, health insurance, facemasks

The Central government has asked states to ensure essential needs of migrant workers coming back to cities are taken care of, including free Covid-19 testing, housing facilities, and health insurance coverage.

States have been advised to ensure periodical medical examination of migrant workers. They have also been asked to ensure their children are enrolled in schools where they are staying “to prevent adverse effects on education”.

“Migrant workers should not face any financial burden on account of testing or any treatment/quarantine required to be undertaken by them,” the advisory guidelines by the labour and employment ministry said.

“A proper database