Game Changer? Yogi Makes State's Approval Mandatory To Employ Migrant Workers From Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh, India's most populated state is also the largest supplier of manpower in the country. And since the lockdown began millions who had been working elsewhere in the country have been coming back to their hometowns, which has triggered a major crisis.

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While many who were forced to return to their homes have said that they will never go back to the cities in search of jobs others are waiting for their workplaces to open again so that they can once again earn a living.

But Migrant workers who wish to return to their places of work after the lockdown is lifted may no longer find the going easy now. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that his government will lay down stringent conditions for ensuring social security of workers from the state who are hired by other states.

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"Other states will also need to seek permission from his government before engaging workers from UP," he said while addressing a webinar on Sunday.

The Chief Minister stated "If any state wants manpower, the state government will have to guarantee social security and insurance of the workers. Without our permission they will not be able to take our people," he said.

He said all migrant workers who have returned to the state were being registered and their skills were being mapped by the administration. Any state or entity interested in hiring them will need to take care of their social, legal and monetary rights.

BCCL

Speaking about the challenges his administration had faced during this crisis, the Chief Minister said, "When I talk of Uttar Pradesh, then it is natural to say that it is the state with the highest population. We have faced several challenges during the lockdown. At the beginning, migrant workers and labourers started coming to the state. We deployed 16,000 buses and within 24 hours, they were brought back to their home districts and arrangements were made to screen them."

Legal experts, meanwhile said that requiring government permission for employing people could face a legal challenge as the Constitution guarantees the freedom of movement and residence and employment of workers.

"Article 19 (1)(D) guarantees freedom to move freely, and 19(1)(e) the freedom to settled in any part of the country so the need for permission can be legally challenged," said a senior lawyer.

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Faced with the challenge of providing jobs for the millions of migrant workers, Adityanath also announced that a Migrant Commission will be established to provide jobs for them. This commission will work to guarantee social security to workers by providing them jobs according to their skills.