Migrant labourers in

Kerala

Migrant labourers in Kerala, India's southernmost state, are a significant economic force in the
state; there were around 2.5 million internal migrants in Kerala according to a 2013 study by the
Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation. Every year, the migrant worker population in Kerala
increases by 2.35 lakh (235,000) people.[1] The study, based on long-distance trains terminating
in Kerala, does not cover migrants from the neighbouring states who use other modes of
transport. Assuming that the estimation is rigorous and extrapolating it, taking into account the
net annual addition, possible growth in migration rate, as well as accounting for the migration
from the neighbouring states, Kerala is likely to have 5 to 5.5 million inter-state migrant workers
in 2020.[2] Despite their importance and despite many of them praising the state for its welfare
schemes and environment,[3] they are often ignored in comparison and suffer from
comparatively poor living conditions.

Concrete pumping for an abutment

 Migrant labourers in
Kerala

Machinery used for piling

Total population
Kochi metro construction

5 million (50 lakh)

(2020)

Regions with
Migrant workers find work in paddy significant
fields

populations

Ernakulam >
800,000
 Thiruvananthapuram

Kozhikode >400,000
Migrant workers find work in paddy
fields Palakkad >400,000

Other ~3,000,000
districts
Tea and coffee plantations

Construction work performed by

migrants

Migrants farming
Background
There are both economic and social imbalances among states in India and this leads to internal
migration in general. High literacy rates, better education and lack of professional and skilled
jobs had prompted Keralites to look for higher wages and skilled labour outside India. This trend
then led to a decline in the availability of workforce in Kerala especially in unskilled jobs. Kerala
has the lowest population growth rate in the country and is set to become the first state with
zero population growth, or even with a negative growth rate.[4] The child population growth is
currently negative at -8.44%. In less than a decade, the Keralite population is set to decrease.[5]
Schools have been reporting vacancy of seats not because of drops in enrollment, but simply as
there are no children to send. Therefore, with an ageing population like in Europe combined with
the tendency of youth migrating abroad, the shortage of workers is bound to increase.

Studies
According to a study, Kerala is not able to create enough jobs that are suitable for an
increasingly larger number of young people with high levels of education. Although lack of jobs
was the main reason for migration of Keralites before 2000, the notion of higher wages abroad
has gained traction among Keralites even though currently the wages obtained in Kerala have
become similar to those obtained abroad in many cases.[6] Additionally, the glamour associated
with Gulf emigration is still very strong among the young in Kerala. This is an important factor in
their decision to emigrate instead of working in the state.[7] The Kerala Migration Survey (2014)
conducted by the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, found that the inability
to generate employments to retain the educated youth was one reason why migration had
increased – instead of dipping as forecast a few years earlier. But, several thousand educated
youths have moved to the Gulf for low-skill jobs they wouldn't do in Kerala. Migration therefore
also takes place either because the locals have priced themselves out of the informal service
sector, or, as in big cities like Mumbai, they have placed some tasks beneath them and migrants
fill the gap.[8]
According to a 2013 study[9] conducted by Mr. M. P. Joseph IAS (R),[10] Dr. D. Narayana and Dr. C.
S. Venkiteswaran on behalf of the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation for the Department of
Labour and Skills of the Government of Kerala, there are over 25 lakh(2.5 million) domestic
migrant labourers in Kerala from other states of India, as well as from Bhutan and Nepal, in 2016
this figure stood over 40 lakhs (4 million) with an annual arrival rate of 2.35 lakhs with a sum of
Rs 25,000 crores going outside the state each year as wages to the migrant workers.[11]
According to official estimates, the expatriate Malayali population earns in excess of Rs. 75,000
crore annually. The number of migrant workers in Kerala is much larger compared to only 16 lakh
(1.6 million) Keralites working outside India[12] In 2013, the number of migrant workers in Kerala
was almost one-tenth of that of the local population which was about 33 million in 2011. It is
estimated to rise as high as 48 lakhs (4.8 million) by 2023 despite the decline of migration of
Keralites to other countries. Besides, within 10 years, the majority of the local population would
have aged above 40 years and this could lead to a further increase of migration from other
states.[13] In many cases, the high linguistic, social and cultural differences of Kerala and these
other states and the large distance make it similar to international migration rather than internal
migration.[14]

Possible causes
Kerala offers the best wage rates in the country in the unorganised sector.[15] Sustained job
opportunities, peaceful social environment, relatively less discriminatory treatment of workers,
presence of significant others, direct trains from native states, the ease with which the money
they earn can be transferred home and the penetration of mobile phones cutting short the
distance from homes influenced the migration to Kerala.[2] There are push and pull factors
attracting migrants to Kerala. According to Dr. Manav Paul, the push factors are mostly poverty,
unemployment, density of population, bad yield from agriculture, low demand for labourers and
other factors like raising up families, lack of civil activities in the residential area, disasters,
internal fights on basis of caste, creed, race affect the flow of migrants to Kerala. Pull factors
like better employment opportunities, standard of life in Kerala, high wages compared to other
states, minimal or absence of communal clashes, high health indices, and provision of
education for children also attract migrants to Kerala, as well as an ongoing labor shortage in
Kerala and greater healthcare availability. However, despite these motivations, migrants often
find that they are unable to access the same benefits as locals.
Push factors
Migration has been a livelihood strategy for millions of rural poor in India for decades. Low
wages, limited and irregular employment opportunities, failed crops, family debts and drought
have been some of the major reasons that have pushed many people to leave their homes in
search of jobs in Kerala too. Footloose labourers from Tamil Nadu have been lamenting about
the lack of rains in their native place due to which agriculture is in a crisis. Workers from
Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh and those from northern Karnataka were severely hit by drought.
The major source areas from where workers come to Kerala are known for floods, cyclones as
well as drought. In addition to these typical reasons, several workers from the eastern and
northeastern states of India have cited political instability, caste oppressions and communal
violence in their native places as reasons for migration. The enforcement of Foreigners Act by
the current government in Assam has accentuated the movement of undocumented migrants
from Bangladesh in Assam to Kerala.[2]

Pull factors
Kerala offers the best wage rates in the country in the unorganised sector- almost double the
national average in many categories. In the absence of the availability of native labour due to the
demographic advancement and the resultant changes in the age structure of the population, the
state is almost completely dependent on migrant labour. The high wage rates and the
sustainable job opportunities have made Kerala one of the most sought after destinations in the
country. Political stability, the comparatively peaceful social environment, and the relatively less
discriminatory treatment meted out to migrants compared to many other potential destinations,
also serve as additional pull factors. The Muslim and Christian migrants feel quite comfortable
in the state compared to other parts of India which is a significant reason for Kerala being
chosen as their work destination. Hindi and Odiya services are offered for the Christian migrants
in select areas in Kerala, and Muslim labourers tend to live in areas with significant presence of
native Muslim community. Some of the migrants who have come to Kerala with their families
cited the availability of better educational and health facilities in Kerala as an additional impetus
for sticking on here.[2]

High wages
Kerala currently offers the highest wages not only in India but also among the SAARC Countries.
The high minimum wages with comparatively better living conditions in Kerala, even in villages,
are often what motivates migrant workers, as the wages are often double or even more than
three times than wages obtained in other major cities in India, which also have higher living
costs.[16] This is often attributed to the socialist-leaning Kerala model of development and is a
key attraction to the migrant labourers.[17] For agricultural work like ploughing and tilling, the
average daily wage in Kerala was more than Rs 713, followed by Tamil Nadu at Rs 515. The
lowest wage being paid in the country was Rs 187. In states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat
and Odisha, workers are usually paid wages of around 200 rupees, but which can be as low as
90 rupees. The wages for non-agricultural work is also much higher in Kerala. Carpenters and
plumbers get wages which are two times the national wage average for their profession. The
data shows that while the average wage ranges are between Rs 200 and Rs 300 for different
professions in states across the country, employers in Kerala do not pay below Rs 600 for any
job.[18][19] It is even said that a migrant labourer from Bihar, who would get Rs 40 at his native
place, makes a minimum of Rs 600 in Kerala.[20][21] However, Keralite workers are paid even
higher amounts and so, most of the times the local residents prefer the migrant workers
because of the comparatively cheaper labour and also because the migrants work harder than
the locals. Even though the wages for labour are high, the cost of living in the state is the same
or even lower than in many other parts of the country. Over 70 per cent of them earn wages
above Rs.300 per day.

However, according to the last NSSO Survey (2011–2012), in the category of major states,
Kerala has the highest unemployment rate (UR). Kerala's unemployment level is at 7.4%, while in
other states it is below 4%. Even though the rate has declined over the years, 50 lakh (5 million)
people are estimated to be unemployed in the state. The unemployment rate is lowest in Gujarat,
at 0.5 per cent. However, Gujarat is a low-paying state on daily wages. Reading the two reports
together, one can infer that while migrant labourers are attracted by the high daily wages, the
natives are not opting for these jobs. Literacy and higher levels of education too has contributed
to this attitude of considering some jobs as not respectable enough for a highly educated
person.[18]

As per a study in 2013, the expatriate Malayali population earns over 75000 crore rupees
annually. These high inward remittances have increased the demand of local labour. According
to a study conducted by GIFT, the migrant labourers in kerala send their homes approximately
17500 crore rupees.[17] or an average of Rs 70,000 per person per year. These remittances are
almost entirely sent home via bank services.

Average Wage Earnings per day

Kerala offers the best wages in unorganised sector among the subnational entities of South
Asia, which might be a pull factor for the Migrant labourers in Kerala. According to the India
Wage Report prepared by International Labour Organization in 2018, the states with the
consistent highest casual wages in both rural and urban areas are Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir,
Punjab, and Haryana.[22] The existing wages for casual workers in Kerala is around 65% higher
than that of India.[22] It is notable that the wage rates for women in Kerala is 50% more than that
of their counterparts in India.[22] However it is much lesser than their male counterparts in
Kerala.[22]

Average wage earnings per day from casual labour work other than public works in Currently
Week Status (CWS) for Kerala and India, in ₹[22][23][24]
Rural Urban Total
Period K/I
M F P M F P M F P
July– Kerala 641.83 357.79 598.79 710.13 422.76 676.4 664.82 375.6 624.23
September
2018 India 276.92 170.1 253.93 342.15 204.73 319.3 287.88 174.54 264.38

October– Kerala 659.41 377.8 605.64 678.44 365.85 649.06 666.26 375.43 620.16
December
2018 India 286.84 185.64 264.63 348.76 226.25 331.24 297.86 190.26 275.59

January– Kerala 677.53 403.4 651.61 684.01 332.02 649.73 680.07 374.84 650.87
March 2019 India 287.36 190.23 267.42 357.53 220.22 339.15 299.08 193.44 278.56

April–June Kerala 732.17 388.32 697.18 680.32 372.25 648.27 710.77 381.59 676.96
2019 India 297.44 199.24 278.62 367.65 244.15 351.82 309.77 204.49 290.7

†M:Male, F:Female, P:Person

Welfare schemes

Education
The Kerala government is considering the development of a Skill Development Institute for
migrant workers.[25] It has already established Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction
in Kollam city[26] and new centres of Kerala Academy of Skills Excellence (KASE) will be opened
soon in other districts.

Although a large number of the children of migrant workers are enrolled in government schools,
the state education department has opened schools for the children of migrant workers under
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Region specific teaching curriculum has to be often adopted as the
origin and languages of migrants always differ.[27]

Migrants are also taught reading and writing skills in Malayalam and Hindi through the state
literacy mission.[3] Hamari Malayalam textbooks and Changathi are provided to the migrant
labourers and more than 400 migrants registered for the first classes which were conducted in
unlikely places like inside factories and auditoriums, anganwadis and union offices, libraries and
shelters.[28]

Health and social security

Kerala is the first State in India to enact a social security scheme for the migrant workers and the
State is the first to provide benefits to the job-seekers from outside with the Kerala migrant
workers' welfare scheme set up in 2010.[29] The police has started audits of migrant workers in
cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram through which biometric details have been captured
and ID cards issued.[30] In 2016, a new insurance scheme called Awas was launched to provide
social security to the migrant workers and also to act as their database and registry as the
crimes involving migrant workers are also rising along with the population.[31] The government
has also begun to open safe and clean hostels for migrant workers titled 'apna ghar' to take care
of their dismal accommodation.[32]

Kerala currently offers free health care for all the migrant workers[3] and is planning legislation to
address the migrant labourers issue with "The Kerala Migrant Workers Social Security Bill".[33]
The first official labour camp will also be opened for workers from the North and North eastern
parts of the country in the Palakkad district which would accommodate about 1500 workers and
camps will be established in all other districts in the next phase. The department also plans to
start kiosks and call centres with people proficient in Hindi as staff to interact and understand
the problems of the labourers. Migrant Suraksha Project is being implemented across the State
under the aegis of the Kerala State Aids Control Society among migrant labourers since 2009
mainly to detect HIV+ cases among them and to create awareness and health cards also have
been issued to the labourers.[34] Many private foundations have their own 'migrant suraksha
projects'and even free medical camps which aims to improve the life of migrants working in the
state.[35] Exclusive grama sabhas or village councils are planned for the migrant labourers to
identify their issues and find solutions.[36]

Demographics
Authorities find it difficult to get an exact number since thousands of migrants are said to move
through the state from one part to another every day and at least 1500 new migrants reach the
state every week. While Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram continue to attract the largest number of
migrants, cities like Kozhikode and Kollam also have a sizeable number of migrant workers.
According to the 2013 study, which was based on a Survey of the Domestic Migrant Labour
coming into and leaving Kerala, the remittances of migrant workers in Kerala to their home
states are over Rs. 17,500 crores which is equivalent to 4 per cent of Kerala's gross domestic
product.[37] To put this in perspective; while the total remittances to Kerala from Keralites abroad,
including in the Middle east countries from Apr 2013-Mar2014 were Rs 72,680 crores, the
amount of household remittances to Kerala from its citizens abroad during Apr-March 2014 was
only Rs 15,129 crores which is lesser than the amount which the migrant labourers in Kerala
send to their home states[38]

Migrant workers are a work force consisting almost entirely of single males aged between 18
and 35 years and are usually highly mobile within Kerala. According to a 2013 study
commissioned by the government, every fourth male between the ages of 20 and 64 in the state
is likely to be a migrant. Whereas 60 per cent of them work in the construction sector, they also
work in the hospitality, manufacturing, trade and agriculture sectors. Their skills range from
unskilled to skilled carpenters, masons, electricians and the like. Migrants now make around
65% of several private enterprises. In industries such as cashew, hotels, brick kilns, construction,
quarries and fishing; their daily wages range from 400 to 900 rupees.[39] Despite the fact that
many migrants are not from West Bengal or Bangladesh, they are often known as "Bengalis"[40]
or "Bhais".[19]

Traditionally, the largest number of migrant workers in Kerala used to come from Tamil Nadu[41]
with many Tamil colonies existing in Kerala and many of them having been integrated with the
locals in Kerala. Although a few studies say that labourers from neighbouring states like Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka far outnumber the others, the cultural similarities with Kerala makes them
well integrated with the local population.[42] In Kasaragod and Wayanad districts, most of the
migrant labourers are from Karnataka.[43] During the period from 1961 to 1991, workers from
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka1 complemented the native workers in filling up the requirement of
the blue-collar labour force. There were specific sectors where migrant labourers were largely
absorbed. The plantations, the brick kilns, and work requiring digging up earth predominantly
depended on migrant labour.[2] Labour migration from beyond southern India started
significantly with the arrival of migrants from Odisha to work in the timber industry in Ernakulam
district. Even though there are still a large number of workers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,
the trend in replacement labour seems to have reversed[44] as according to the survey in 2013,
75 per cent of the migrant workers come from five states, namely West Bengal, Bihar, Assam,
Rajasthan and Odisha. A large number consist of workers from Uttarakhand and Manipur as
well. The languages seems to have found ground in Kerala with many shops advertising
themselves also in Hindi and instances of local transport buses displaying destination names in
Bengali and even Oriya. In Perumbavoor, one of the towns with the largest migrant population in
the state (over 200,000 migrants), there are Bengali hotels, churches with gospels in Oriya and
Imams from Bengal and Odisha who give their speeches in their respective languages, theatres
playing Bengali, Assamese and Oriya movies as well as a Gandhi Bazaar and a Bhai Bazaar.[20]

Some of the longest migration corridors in India have evolved in the past two decades
connecting Kerala with eastern and northeastern India. The study identified 12 new inter-district
corridors, where the distance between source and destination district ranges from 2,300 to
3,700 km. Tamil Nadu continues to be one of the major sources of footloose labour in Kerala.[2]
Migrants from 194 districts from across 25 Indian states Union Territories were found working in
Kerala during 2016–2017. More than four-fifths of these districts belonged to eight Indian
states. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal in the
east and Assam in the northeast India were the major states of origin of migrant workers.
Workers from far off districts such as Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir to Namsai in Arunachal
Pradesh were also found. Migrants from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim,
Tripura and Assam worked in the textile and apparel sector. Boys from Nagaland were found
working in the hospitality sector. Labourers from Rajasthan sold gadgets at busy traffic junctions
in Kochi. Men and women from Andhra Pradesh sought work from Kochi city labour nakas.
Workers from Madhya Pradesh were found in the plantations. Women workers from
Maharashtra were found in Kasaragod. There were also workers from Nepal and Bangladesh.[2]

According to S Irudaya Rajan, a professor and expert on migration studies at

Thiruvananthapuram's Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Kerala is a field to watch out how
migration, ageing and demographics change the landscape.[6]

Origin statistics

State Percentage share

Jharkhand 20

Assam 30

Bihar 20

Odisha 5

Source : Institute of Finance and Taxation

Statistics by district

District Population

Ernakulam >800,000

Thiruvananthapuram >800,000

Kozhikode >400,000

Palakkad >400,000

Thrissur >200,000

Kannur 200,000

Malappuram 200,000

Others 150,000

Total 4,000,000

[45]

State profiles
The below are profiles of the top 8 sourcing states for labourers in Kerala

Tamil Nadu
Contrary to the popular perceptions that migration from Tamil Nadu has significantly reduced, a
2017 research reveals that Tamil Nadu continues to be one of the major sources of footloose
labour in Kerala. Among the eight leading source states, Tamil Nadu, along with Assam, had the
largest number of districts from where workers were found in Kerala. Migrants from 24 out of
the 32 districts in Tamil Nadu worked across all the districts in Kerala. The migration was mostly
to Thiruvananthapuram and also to Kollam and Palakkad, three cities that share border with
Tamil Nadu. Both men and women came from Tamil Nadu. In a lot of cases, both husband and
wife came for work leaving the children behind with other family members. Migrants from
Colachel in Kanyakumari district, Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore and
Thoothukudi districts constituted the majority among the traditional migrant fishers from various
states who worked on boats that operated from Kerala coast. The plantations in Idukki and
Wayanad also engage workers from Tamil Nadu. In most towns in Kerala, workers from Tamil
Nadu were available and stayed in rented facilities scattered in and around the city.[2]

Karnataka
Migrants from 17 districts in Karnataka worked in Kerala during 2016–2017. Migration from
Karnataka to Kerala was mostly confined to the three districts of Wayanad, Kannur and
Kasaragod which share borders with Karnataka A lot of workers from Karnataka came with their
families that included small children. Kannadigas constituted the majority of the footloose
labour in Kasaragod and Wayanad . Plantations in Wayanad and laterite mines in Kasaragod and
Kannur engaged workers from Karnataka in significant numbers. Women from Karnataka also
worked in the seafood sector in Alappuzha and in the apparel sectors in Trivandrum and
Ernakulam districts.[2]

Odisha
Odisha is the first state beyond south India from where workers came to Kerala in significant
numbers. Migrants from 22 districts of Odisha- Western Odisha, Coastal Odisha, Southern
Odisha and Northern Odisha, regions which have been identified as having distinct migration
patterns, were found working in Kerala. A lot of workers from Odisha belonged to Mayurbhanj,
Malkangiri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Sundargarh, districts in Odisha with more than
half of the population belonging to tribal communities. There were also Christian families among
the Odiya workers. Some of them had moved out of Odisha during or after the Kandhamal riots
in 2008.Except in the seafood, apparel and construction sectors, migration was driven by social
networks. Traditional fishers from coastal Odisha worked on boats that operated from various
harbours in Kerala.Women and girls from Balangir, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Ganjam,
Nabarangpur and Rayagada worked in the textile and apparel sector in Kerala. Odiya families
were concentrated in and around Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district. An Odiya service is
available on Sundays at a church in Perumbavoor, Ernakulam district. A nursery school for
children of Odiya workers has been functioning on the premises of the Keenpuram industrial
estate at South Vazhakkulam for several years now. A majority of the children were from
Rayagada.[2]

Jharkhand
Workers from more than two-thirds of the districts in Jharkhand were engaged in various jobs in
Kerala. Many of these districts such as Khunti, Gumla, Lohardaga, Simdega, Pakur, Dumka,
Latehar and West Singhbhum are concentration areas of tribal populations. Families from
Jharkhand worked in several plantations in Idukki and Thrissur districts. A lot of them belonged
to the Oraon tribe. The textile and apparel industry engaged workers, mainly women and girls,
from Jharkhand.Migration from Jharkhand appears to be mostly organised labour mobilisation
through a network of intermediaries. However, of late, network driven migration has become
more prominent. The Dhanbad–Alappuzha Express is now one of the top ten most crowded
trains in India according to a recent report.[2]

Bihar
Workers from a majority of the districts in Bihar were found in Kerala. Migration from Bihar is
predominantly driven by social networks; however, there is also organised labour movement to
the construction industry. Large scale construction in Kerala depended heavily on workers from
Bihar. Brick kilns in Wayanad, Kollam and Alappuzha also had workers, including families, from
Bihar. Plantations in Idukki too had families from Bihar. Binanipuram in Ernakulam district is a
residential pocket of migrant workers from Bihar.[2]

West Bengal
Workers from West Bengal constitute one of the largest proportions of the footloose labour in
Kerala. They were available at the labour nakas in all the districts along with workers from Tamil
Nadu. The minor construction sector had absorbed a lot of them.A large proportion of the
migrants from West Bengal were Muslims. A mason who earned Rs 200 in Murshidabad got Rs
800 and above in Kerala.Families from West Bengal were clustered in various panchayats near
Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district and Nelliyampathy in Palakkad district.[2]

Assam
Migration from Assam to Kerala started in the late nineties as the plywood industry in Assam
collapsed in 1996. While the first wave of migrants from Assam constituted predominantly
Bengali Muslims with Nagaon as the focal point, the latest wave of migrants includes Hindu and
Christian men and women from most of the districts. Migrants from Assam came to work in the
plywood industry in Perumbavoor first. Now the plywood sector in Perumbavoor as well as
Valapattanam in Kannur engages workers from Assam. Workers from 24 districts in Assam
were found working in Kerala during 2016–2017. Unlike Bengali Muslims from Assam who are
found in large numbers across several districts in Kerala, single Hindu and Christian men from
Lower Assam were found to be the majority in the laterite mining sector. Men from Assam, who
never had any previous experience in fishing, worked as deck hands on fishing boats that
operated from several harbours. Several migrants from Assam were also engaged as labourers,
loading and unloading ice and fish, at various fish landing centres. Men and women from Assam
also worked in the hospitality sector across the state. Assamese families were also found
working in the plantation sector in Idukki and Wayanad.[2]
Work setting
A 2017 study found four broad employment arrangements for migrant labour in Kerala. While
these four categories are not mutually exclusive, they explain the labour dynamics which are
distinct. The footloose labourers, not attached to any particular employer, constitute a large
proportion of the workers. These workers are free to choose their vocation, the location of
employment, and have a reasonable negotiation power over their wages. Though these workers
get the highest of the wages for an eight-hour job in Kerala, their chances of getting work every
day are highly unpredictable. The daily wages of men for any unskilled job range from Rs 400 to
Rs 700. The informal employees, the most common category of workers employed in the
industrial sectors in Kerala, are either attached to an enterprise or a contractor, but without any
formal agreement. These workers will not be on the official rolls of the company and do not
enjoy most of the social security benefits. Their wages are generally lower than the footloose
labourers, but they have steady employment. In the case of large scale employment, free
accommodation is generally provided by the employer. Workers are usually deployed through a
contractor to whom the manufacturer usually assigns the deliverables. Most of the time, the
contractor himself/herself is a migrant and payments are usually made on piece rate or flat rate.
Informal employees perhaps constitute the majority of the migrant labour in Kerala. A minority
among the migrant labourers is also engaged as formal employees who enjoy all the social
security benefits at par with the native labourers. Many industries have a handful of such
employees who have been working there for years, while the rest are employed informally,
directly or through a contractor.[2]

Issues and challenges

Initially the Tamil population used to migrate in large numbers to Kerala but appropriate action
by the Tamil Nadu government in providing welfare schemes has called some of them back.
Migrants from other states often find it difficult to integrate due to differences in culture and
habits language and the local cuisine, which is not to many migrants' tastes due to the presence
of coconut oil.[21] Locals also experience problems such as higher rents, which result in many
local businesses no longer being viable, while renters cannot afford to pay their rent. In 2016, the
Kerala State Planning Board constituted a working group to formulate recommendations for the
welfare of migrant workers under the thirteenth five-year plan (2017-2022). Perhaps it was for
the first time in India that a state had set up a Working Group on Labour Migration as part of the
five-year plan.

Migrants from other countries

There is a large number of migrants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Indonesia, kenya,
Nigeria, Philippines and Sri Lanka among other countries especially in larger cities like
Trivandrum and Kochi. The government is taking steps following the concern about public
hygiene and the scare of insurgents and illegal migrants from Bangladesh finding their way into
the state, many of whom apparently follow extremist causes.[21] These workers report Assam or
West Bengal as their native states. Presence of men and women is documented in several
districts. Trafficking of women from Bangladesh to Kerala was also documented by the police in
Kozhikode and Palakkad districts. Settlers from Bangladesh without documents, on the Indian
side, particularly from Assam, move to Kerala as the chances of being intercepted as a foreigner
are much lesser in Kerala compared to Assam. Presence of Bangladeshi natives in several
prisons and a mental hospital was reported. Although in Kerala Nepali men (Gurkhas) had been
employed mostly as security personnel, migrants from Nepal are now available across several
economic sectors in the state. Some of them even come here with families. The hospitality
industry in Kerala engages men and women from Nepal. Women from Nepal work in malls as
well as shops. Nepali men have also been found working in several industrial estates in the
state. Unlike Bangladeshi citizens, citizens of Nepal do not require visa if they enter India directly
from Nepal.[2]

Illegal migrants from Bangladesh have also been arrested in many cases where the migrants,
who come under the pretext of being from West Bengal or Assam and as citizens of India. It is
estimated that a large number of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants live in Kerala under the pretext
of being from West Bengal[46] and the Kerala police has been finding it difficult to identify as they
often mingle with migrants from other states and disappear into the crowd.[47] It is estimated
that about 20 million (2 crore) citizens of Bangladesh have crossed into India illegally in the last
two decades alone.[48] and had even led to events like Assam Movement. In Kerala, this
migration happens due to the high wages and quality living conditions.

Education
The majority of the migrant workers do not have any special skills, while the state's construction,
hospitality and retail sectors among other areas demand a skilled work force. The unskilled
migrant workers are unable to fill the skill gap. Skill development institutes have been proposed
for setup in the state.[25] The poor enrollment of children from migrant families in schools and
dipping literacy levels is also a concern in Kerala, which historically boasts the highest literacy
rate in India.[49] While a significant number of children of migrant workers had been enrolled in
schools across the districts, the number of migrant children not attending schools could also be
substantial. Unlike couples from Tamil Nadu who mostly leave their children behind with other
family members in their native places to ensure that they attend school, migrant families from
most other states have come here with their children.[2]

Health and social status

Some of the most important issues facing migrant workers include low-quality and illegal
housing, which often lacks basic facilities such as bathrooms and kitchens, long work days of
up to 10 hours, and long work weeks of up to six or seven days. While migrants form a
significant role in Kerala's prosperity, they do not receive much attention from the state
government; this is especially important as they are usually not involved in unions and lack
knowledge about their rights. Migrants are also often absent from government documents;
contracts between migrants and their employers are usually informal and unofficial.[21]

A study conducted in 2013 by the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation for the Kerala
government has recommended that the government take steps to improve their housing and
living conditions. Registration on arrival is also proposed. The report also suggests that the
migrant labourers be brought under the ambit of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.

There have also been concerns about the working conditions and long working hours of migrant
labourers; this issue came to the forefront in regard to the plywood industry in Perumbavoor.[50]
The introduction of health cards was also proposed due to diseases being found in migrant
workers; these were then eradicated by the state. Because of the introduction of new diseases a
proposal to screen all the workers is being made under the "Safe Kerala" campaign.[51]

Begging and human trafficking

Kerala has the lowest proportion of homeless people in India.[52] Once a rare sight, begging on
the streets is on the rise. There have also been reports of child trafficking on the rise with many
street children in Kerala from other states. Although Kerala does not have major industries with
scope for potential child labour, small-scale industries, particularly based in cottages and
quarters, are stealthily engaging children.[53]

Crime
The rising crime rate, with many crimes being attributed to migrant workers, especially those
from the poorer north-eastern states of India, such as Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, has made
their acceptance into the local community harder.[54] Perumbavoor and its adjoining areas in the
Ernakulam rural area, which features the largest concentration of migrant workers in the state,
has earned a prominent place in the state crime map.[55] During the last five years, 1,770 cases
were registered in the state in which migrants were accused. Drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and
robbery are the major crimes involving migrants, but there were brutal murder cases in which
migrants were involved.[56] In an analysis, out of 38 cases of murder reported in Perumbavoor
area which has one of the largest number of migrants in the state in the last 5 years, 32 had links
to migrant labourers and such a trend is observed in other parts of the state as well with only a
few arrests made as the accused often flee the state. 323 cases of crime are registered relating
to migrant labour in the Ernakulam rural area alone in the last five years.[55] Kerala government
has been trying to alleviate the fears of the local population in regard to this. They are also
known to crowd railway stations, such as Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam Junction, where
they are often tied with Tamil robber gangs.[57]

Barely a month after the much publicized Jisha murder case, another migrant worker was
accused of robbery and tied to a tree in Kottayam, which resulted in his death.[58] The murder of
Nimisha, a college student has put the focus back on Perumbavoor, a migrant hub, two years
after the 2016 Jisha murder case.[59][60][61]

Conclusion
A study done in 2017 had the following key findings:[2]

Some of the longest migration corridors in India have evolved during the past two decades,
connecting Kerala with Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Tamil Nadu continues
to be one of the leading sources of footloose labour in Kerala. In addition to the single men
typical of long-distance migration, families as well as single women from eastern and
northeastern Indian states have come in significant numbers to work in Kerala. Irrespective of
the origin, the majority of the migrant workers appear to be from socially and educationally
disadvantaged poor agrarian communities. The future of human development in Kerala is also
dependent on how fast the migrant population catches up with the current level of development
in the state. Kerala offered migrant workers better wages, sustained work opportunities and
relatively better treatment compared to several other destinations. Compounding their
vulnerability, the access of migrant workers and their families to quality healthcare in Kerala is
constrained by the inconvenient timings of the public health institutions that coincide with the
work hours of migrants, communication barriers of both the providers as well as the migrant
workers, limited awareness of migrants about the available health facilities, their poor social
support system at the destination as well as their easy access to unauthorised healthcare
providers. Children of migrant workers in plantations, children of footloose labourers and older
children from poorer families are less likely to get enrolled in schools and more likely to drop out.
While migrant workers, who have been to other destinations, rate Kerala as a place which treats
them comparatively better, these workers experience stigma, discrimination and exploitations at
unacceptable levels in Kerala too. Kerala is one of the very few Indian states where the overall
government response to migration has been positive and accommodative.

See also

Kerala Gulf diaspora

Ethnic groups in Kerala
Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979
Illegal immigration to India
Kerala model
Labour in India
Economy of Kerala
Unemployment in Kerala

References

1. K, Rejimon (1 May 2017). "Left-led Kerala

 govt will be first in country to provide
insurance, free medical treatment for
migrant workers" (http://www.firstpost.co
m/india/left-led-kerala-govt-will-be-first-in-c
ountry-to-provide-insurance-free-medical-tre
atment-for-migrant-workers-3416142.htm
l) . Firstpost. Retrieved 10 May 2017.

2. https://www.unescogym.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/11/Gods-Own-
Workforce-CMID-2017.pdf

3. Menon, Sreelatha (27 July 2011). "Kerala, a

'Dubai' for Bengali migrants" (http://www.bu
siness-standard.com/article/economy-polic
y/kerala-a-dubai-for-bengali-migrants-1110
72700087_1.html) . Business Standard
India. Retrieved 14 December 2017 – via
Business Standard.
4. "Kerala to become 'zero population growth'
state - Times of India" (http://timesofindia.i
ndiatimes.com/india/Kerala-to-become-zer
o-population-growth-state/articleshow/467
27534.cms) . Timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 December
2016.

5. "Kerala Census: Child population declines"

(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/k
erala/kerala-census-child-population-declin
es/article4725074.ece) . The Hindu. 18
May 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
6. "Election 2016: Can Kerala learn to respect
its non-resident millionaires and Bengali
immigrants equally? — Quartz" (http://qz.co
m/684044/can-kerala-learn-to-respect-its-n
on-resident-millionaires-and-bengali-immigr
ants-equally/) . Qz.com. 16 May 2016.
Retrieved 1 December 2016.

7. "Kerala migration survey 2014: State's youth

still fly abroad for livelhood" (http://indianex
press.com/article/india/india-others/kerala
-migration-survey-2014-states-youth-still-fly-
abroad-for-livelhood/) . The Indian Express.
17 September 2014. Retrieved 1 December
2016.
 8. "Kerala's emigration, locals' disinclination to
work is a boon for interstate migrant
labourers" (http://www.firstpost.com/india/
keralas-emigration-locals-disinclination-to-
work-is-a-boon-for-interstate-migrant-labour
ers-3612913.html) . firstpost.com. 14 June
2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.

9. M. P. Joseph; D. Narayana; C. S.
Venkiteswaran (2013). Study of Domestic
Migrant Labour in Kerala.

10. Menacherry, M. P. Joseph. "M P Joseph" (ht

tp://www.mpjoseph.org) .
www.mpjoseph.org.
11. "Archive" (http://archive.indianexpress.co
m/news/630-migrant-workers-come-to-kera
la-daily/1075009/http://www.mathrubhumi.
com/print-edition/kerala/migrate-workers-i
n-kerala-malayalam-news-1.958770) .
Archive.indianexpress.com. 15 January
2014. Retrieved 1 December 2016.

12. "Survey finds only 16.25 lakh NoRKs -

Today's Paper" (http://www.thehindu.com/t
odays-paper/survey-finds-only-1625-lakh-no
rks/article5299108.ece) . The Hindu. 31
October 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
13. "Study on the Domestic Migrant Labour in
Kerala" (http://www.minister-labour.kerala.g
ov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view
=article&id=120:study-on-the-domestic-mig
rant-labour-in-kerala&catid=34:frontslider) .
Minister-labour.kerala.gov.in. 26 January
1946. Retrieved 1 December 2016.

14. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/we

b/20160304062709/http://csesindia.org/a
dmin/modules/cms/docs/publication/29.p
df) (PDF). Archived from the original (htt
p://csesindia.org/admin/modules/cms/doc
s/publication/29.pdf) (PDF) on 4 March
2016. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
15. "It's official: Lowest minimum wage in
Kerala is Rs 600 a day" (https://www.newin
dianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/may/
17/its-official-lowest-minimum-wage-in-ker
ala-is-rs-600-a-day-1815629.html) . 17 May
2018.

16. Sobhana K. (4 October 2012). "Kerala pay

too irresistible for Bengal" (https://web.arch
ive.org/web/20140607030155/http://www.t
elegraphindia.com/1121004/jsp/nation/sto
ry_16050826.jsp#.VcRx2_mqqko) .
Telegraphindia.com. Archived from the
original (http://www.telegraphindia.com/11
21004/jsp/nation/story_16050826.jsp#.Vc
Rx2_mqqko) on 7 June 2014. Retrieved
1 December 2016.
17. Nair, Gouridasan (17 August 2015).
"Migrants in the land of expatriates" (http://
www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-
migrants-in-the-land-of-expatriates/article1
0327612.ece) . The Hindu. Retrieved
10 May 2017.

18. "Some statistics that show why migrant

labourers are flocking to Kerala" (http://ww
w.thenewsminute.com/article/some-statisti
cs-show-why-migrant-labourers-are-flocking
-kerala#sthash.OO2YxMrf.dpuf) . The News
Minute. 18 June 2015. Retrieved
1 December 2016.
19. Babul, Bibin (30 April 2016). "Perumbavoor:
A mini North India in Kerala" (http://timesofi
ndia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Perumbavo
or-A-mini-North-India-in-Kerala/articleshow/
52055285.cms) . The Times of India.
Times Group. Retrieved 13 June 2017.

20. "Perumbavoor: A mini North India in Kerala -

Times of India" (http://timesofindia.indiatim
es.com/city/kochi/Perumbavoor-A-mini-No
rth-India-in-Kerala/articleshow/52055285.c
ms) . Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 30
April 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
21. Menon, Sreelatha (27 July 2011). "Kerala, a
'Dubai' for Bengali migrants" (http://www.bu
siness-standard.com/article/economy-polic
y/kerala-a-dubai-for-bengali-migrants-1110
72700087_1.html) . Business Standard.
Retrieved 13 June 2017.

22. Kerala, Government of (2020). Economic

Review 2020 (Volume-I) (https://spb.kerala.
gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-01/English-
Vol-1_0.pdf) (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala State Planning Board. p. 365.
23. Sadhu, Asit Kumar (2020). Annual Report of
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) -
2018-19 (http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/fi
les/publication_reports/Annual_Report_PLF
S_2018_19_HL.pdf) (PDF). New Delhi:
National Statistical Office, Ministry of
Statistics and Implementation, Government
of India.

24. Poddar, Jyotirmoy (2019). Annual Report of

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) -
2017-18 (http://www.mospi.nic.in/sites/def
ault/files/publication_reports/Annual%20Re
port%2C%20PLFS%202017-18_31052019.p
df) (PDF). New Delhi: National Statistical
Office, Ministry of Statistics and
Implementation, Government of India.
25. "Kerala government proposes to set up skill
development institute for migrant workers"
(http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indi
a-others/kerala-government-proposes-to-se
t-up-skill-development-institute-for-migrant-
workers/) . indianexpress.com. 16 October
2014. Retrieved 14 December 2017.

26. ".:: K a S e ::" (https://web.archive.org/web/

20150716164856/http://www.kase.in/kase
_old_backup/newsdetails.php?id=16) .
Archived from the original (http://www.kas
e.in/kase_old_backup/newsdetails.php?id=
16) on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July
2015.
27. "Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan plans for education
of children of migrant labourers" (https://ec
onomictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/serv
ices/education/sarva-shiksha-abhiyan-plan
s-for-education-of-children-of-migrant-labou
rers/articleshow/45215280.cms?intenttarg
et=no) . The Economic Times. 20
November 2014. Retrieved 14 December
2017.

28. Anima, P (20 October 2017). "Malayalam

hai, bhai" (http://www.thehindubusinesslin
e.com/blink/know/malayalam-hai-bhai/arti
cle9912037.ece) .
thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved
14 December 2017.
29. BASHEER, KPM (16 February 2015).
"Kerala's scheme for migrants" (http://www.
thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/ke
ralas-scheme-for-migrants/article6902317.
ece) . thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved
14 December 2017.

30. Unnikrishnan, Hiran (25 July 2016). "Police

begin audit of migrant workers in city" (htt
p://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/
Police-begin-audit-of-migrant-workers-in-cit
y/article14506887.ece) . The Hindu.
Retrieved 14 December 2017 – via
www.thehindu.com.
31. "Kerala To Bring Over 25 Lakh Migrants
Under Insurance Cover" (http://www.ndtv.co
m/kerala-news/kerala-to-bring-over-25-lakh-
migrants-under-insurance-cover-1432884) .
ndtv.com. Retrieved 14 December 2017.

32. "Kerala's first 'Apna Ghar' is ready, hostel

houses 640 migrant workers" (http://www.t
henewsminute.com/article/keralas-first-ap
na-ghar-ready-hostel-houses-640-migrant-w
orkers-71557) . thenewsminute.com. 13
November 2017. Retrieved 14 December
2017.
33. "Business News Today: Read Latest
Business news, India Business News Live,
Share Market & Economy News" (http://arti
cles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-
07-15/news/64449963_1_migrant-labourer
s-social-security-bill-state-police) .

34. Staff Reporter (6 March 2016). "Corpn.

extends help for migrants' health project" (h
ttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-n
ational/tp-kerala/corpn-extends-help-for-mi
grants-health-project/article8319951.ece) .
The Hindu. Retrieved 14 December 2017 –
via www.thehindu.com.
35. "Medical camp for migrant workers" (http://
www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-nation
al/tp-kerala/medical-camp-for-migrant-work
ers/article8558856.ece) . The Hindu. 5 May
2016. Retrieved 14 December 2017 – via
www.thehindu.com.

36. Muringatheri, Mini (9 April 2016). "Grama

sabhas planned for migrant labourers" (htt
p://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-nat
ional/tp-kerala/grama-sabhas-planned-for-
migrant-labourers/article8453862.ece) .
The Hindu. Retrieved 14 December 2017 –
via www.thehindu.com.
37. Ravindranath, Karthik (8 November 2015).
"Migrant workers send home 4 per cent of
Kerala's GDP" (http://english.manoramaonli
ne.com/my-news/migrant-workers-send-ho
me-4-per-cent-of-kerala-s-gdp.html) .
English.manoramaonline.com. Retrieved
1 December 2016.

38. "Migration still on the rise as job

opportunities shrink in Kerala" (http://indian
express.com/article/india/india-others/mig
ration-still-on-the-rise-as-job-opportunities-s
hrink-in-kerala/#sthash.2UAVgn6D.dpuf) .
The Indian Express. 18 September 2014.
Retrieved 1 December 2016.
39. V B Unnithan (30 March 2016). "40 lakh
migrant workers - Rs 25k cr flowing out of
economy every year - Kerala-Mathrubhumi
Kerala News, Latest Kerala News, Kerala
Breaking News, Kerala Politics" (http://engli
sh.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/40-lakh-
migrant-workers-rs-25k-cr-flowing-out-of-ec
onomy-every-year-english-news-1.960675) .
English.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved
1 December 2016.
40. Menon, Harish C. (16 May 2016). "Can
Kerala learn to respect its non-resident
millionaires and Bengali immigrants
equally?" (https://qz.com/684044/can-keral
a-learn-to-respect-its-non-resident-millionair
es-and-bengali-immigrants-equally/) .
Quartz. Quartz Media LLC. Retrieved
13 June 2017.

41. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/we

b/20110725210311/http://csesindia.org/a
dmin/modules/cms/docs/publication/16.p
df) (PDF). Archived from the original (htt
p://csesindia.org/admin/modules/cms/doc
s/publication/16.pdf) (PDF) on 25 July
2011. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
42. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20160508193749/http://www.csesindia.
org/admin/modules/cms/docs/publicatio
n/16.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original
(http://www.csesindia.org/admin/modules/
cms/docs/publication/16.pdf) (PDF) on 8
May 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.

43. Anandankochi, S. (28 September 2017).

"Most migrant labours come from
Karnataka in Kasaragod, Wayanad" (http://
www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/
most-migrant-labours-come-from-karnatak
a-in-kasaragod-wayanad/article19770876.e
ce) . The Hindu. Retrieved 14 December
2017 – via www.thehindu.com.

44. http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream
/10603/21348/15/15_summary.pdf
45. ഉണ്ണിത്താന്‍, വി.ബി. "കേരളത്തില്‍
മറുനാടന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികള്‍ 40 ലക്ഷം;
പുറത്തേക്കൊഴുകുന്നത് 25,000 കോടി"
(http://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-editio
n/kerala/migrate-workers-in-kerala-malayal
am-news-1.958770) . mathrubhumi.com.
Retrieved 14 December 2017.

46. Surendranath, Nidhi (4 July 2013). "Steady

influx of illegal immigrants into city raises
concern" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/c
ities/Kochi/steady-influx-of-illegal-immigran
ts-into-city-raises-concern/article4878162.e
ce) . The Hindu. Retrieved 14 December
2017 – via www.thehindu.com.

47. "Archive News" (http://www.thehindu.com/

archive/) . The Hindu. Retrieved
14 December 2017.
48. "Bangladeshi influx larger than Lankan
population - and we do nothing" (http://ww
w.firstpost.com/india/bangladeshi-influx-lar
ger-lankan-population-and-we-do-nothing-4
19993.html) . firstpost.com. 16 August
2012. Retrieved 14 December 2017.

49. Staff Reporter (13 December 2012). "Call to

provide education for children of migrant
labourers" (http://www.thehindu.com/today
s-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/call-to-provide
-education-for-children-of-migrant-labourer
s/article4194407.ece) . The Hindu.
Retrieved 14 December 2017 – via
www.thehindu.com.
50. "Plywood Industry, a Boost for Economy" (h
ttps://web.archive.org/web/201408120345
24/http://www.newindianexpress.com/citie
s/kochi/Plywood-Industry-a-Boost-for-Econ
omy/2014/06/16/article2282545.ece) .
newindianexpress.com. Archived from the
original (http://www.newindianexpress.co
m/cities/kochi/Plywood-Industry-a-Boost-f
or-Economy/2014/06/16/article2282545.e
ce) on 12 August 2014. Retrieved
14 December 2017.
51. "Migrant workers bringing in new diseases
to state: Kerala Health Minister - Latest
News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis"
(http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mig
rant-workers-bringing-in-new-diseases-to-st
ate-kerala-health-minister-2102849) .
dnaindia.com. 8 July 2015. Retrieved
14 December 2017.

52. "Population of homeless in rural India dips -

Times of India" (http://timesofindia.indiatim
es.com/india/Population-of-homeless-in-rur
al-India-dips/articleshow/26981896.cms) .
indiatimes.com. Retrieved 14 December
2017.
53. Naha, Abdul Latheef (24 August 2012).
"Rising child labour leads to human
trafficking" (http://www.thehindu.com/toda
ys-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rising-child-l
abour-leads-to-human-trafficking/article381
4716.ece) . The Hindu. Retrieved
14 December 2017 – via
www.thehindu.com.

54. Basheer, KPM (27 May 2015). "Spurt in

crimes involving migrant workers rattles
Kerala" (http://www.thehindubusinessline.c
om/news/states/spurt-in-crimes-involving-
migrant-workers-rattles-kerala/article72521
67.ece) . thehindubusinessline.com.
Retrieved 14 December 2017.
55. "Kerala: Rising Rural Crime Linked to
Migrants" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
151030200034/http://www.newindianexpre
ss.com/states/kerala/Kerala-Rising-Rural-C
rime-Linked-to-Migrants/2015/07/09/articl
e2910260.ece) . newindianexpress.com.
Archived from the original (http://www.newi
ndianexpress.com/states/kerala/Kerala-Ris
ing-Rural-Crime-Linked-to-Migrants/2015/0
7/09/article2910260.ece) on 30 October
2015. Retrieved 14 December 2017.

56. "Migrant workers in Kerala still out of radar"

(http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/c
rime/090616/migrant-workers-in-kerala-still
-out-of-radar.html) . deccanchronicle.com.
9 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
57. "Drug Trafficking: Cops to Step up Vigil on
Migrants" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
160319032346/http://www.newindianexpre
ss.com/cities/kochi/Drug-Trafficking-Cops-
to-Step-up-Vigil-on-Migrants/2016/03/19/ar
ticle3334744.ece) . newindianexpress.com.
Archived from the original (http://www.newi
ndianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Drug-Traffic
king-Cops-to-Step-up-Vigil-on-Migrants/201
6/03/19/article3334744.ece) on 19 March
2016. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
58. Rajeevan, Revathi (5 May 2016). "Kerala:
Migrant labourer dies after locals tie him to
a tree under the sun" (http://indiatoday.into
day.in/story/kerala-migrant-labourer-dies-af
ter-locals-tie-him-to-a-tree-under-the-sun/1/
658805.html) . India Today. Retrieved
13 June 2017.

59. "വീണ്ടും അരുംകൊല; നടുക്കത്തില്‍

നിന്ന് കരകയറാതെ പെരുമ്പാവൂര്‍" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/2019031211142
7/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/mobile/c
rime-beat/crime-news/perumbavoor-nimish
a-murder-case-1.3019616) . Archived from
the original (https://www.mathrubhumi.co
m/mobile/crime-beat/crime-news/perumba
voor-nimisha-murder-case-1.3019616) on
12 March 2019.
60. "College girl killed amid Bengali worker's
chain-snatching bid" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20180730110934/https://english.m
anoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2018/07/
30/college-girl-murdered-perumbavoor.htm
l) . Archived from the original (https://engli
sh.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/201
8/07/30/college-girl-murdered-perumbavoo
r.html) on 30 July 2018.
61. "In Perumbavoor, migrant labourers face
locals' ire after latest murder" (https://www.
newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/201
8/jul/31/in-perumbavoor-migrant-labourers-
face-locals-ire-after-latest-murder-1850935.
html) . Archived (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20180731111605/http://www.newindia
nexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/jul/31/in
-perumbavoor-migrant-labourers-face-local
s-ire-after-latest-murder-1850935.html)
from the original on 31 July 2018.

Further reading

Economic Review 2020 (https://spb.kera

la.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-01/En
 glish-Vol-1_0.pdf) by State Planning
Board, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Migrant_labourers_in_Kerala&oldid=12084597
54"

This page was last edited on 17 February 2024, at

16:18 (UTC). •
Content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0 unless
otherwise noted.