Plight of irregular migrant workers: Who cares?

No permanent redress can be expected until even casual workers are able to unite and bargain collectively for their rights

The tragic death of 16 migrant workers near Aurangabad may have been an accident but it also highlights the utter callousness with which potentially some 139 million Indians whom poverty forces to seek a livelihood outside their home states are treated. They will remain like dumb, driven cattle without entitlements in the eyes of the authorities until they organise to speak up for themselves.

Apart from being ethically objectionable, their present vulnerability is economically counter-productive. Agriculture and construction depend on them while medium and small-sale enterprises that use casual labour contribute up to one-third of India’s GDP and nearly half its