MIGRANT WORKERS

IN
INFORMAL SECTOR
sem 6 Humanities, prepared by Mary Thomas
INFORMAL SECTOR
 The informal sector recognized as an opposition to formal economy, meaning

it included all income earning activities beyond legally regulated enterprises.

They do not have employment security, work security and social security

 In the developing countries, the job opportunities are concentrated mainly in

large and medium towns. This process of economic development has

attracted internal migration in developing countries.

 At least two-thirds of adults in many large and expanding cities of

developing countries are in-migrants.

 In India, it is evident that the states with higher per capita income and larger

non-agricultural sector show high in-migration

INFORMAL SECTOR

 The workers are employed in low-productivity jobs with low incomes and
wages; they work without job safety, medical health and social security
provisions. All these deteriorate both living and working conditions of the
workers. In spite of their working and living in one of the most developed
parts of the country they live in economically marginalized and neglected
life.

 The informal sector is largely characterized by several qualities: easy entry,

meaning anyone who wishes to join the sector can find some sort of work
which will result in cash earnings, a lack of stable employer-employee
relationships, a small scale of operations, and skills gained out.
INFORMAL SECTOR
 The type of work that makes up the informal economy is diverse,
particularly in terms of capital invested, technology used, and income
generated.

 The most prevalent types of work in the informal economy are home-
based workers and street vendors. Home-based workers are more
numerous while street vendors are more visible.

sem 6 Humanities, prepared by Mary Thomas

INFORMAL SECTOR
 Developing countries 65% of population involved in non agricultural informal
sector. Country like India if we include agriculture also 90% people involved in
informal sector.

CHARACTERISTICS

 No employment security,

 Work/job security

 social security

 lack of stable employer-employee relationships,

 small scale of operations,

 Informal economy

 High risk works

 Very long work hours

 No age restrictions(10 yrs to 45yrs)

INFORMAL SECTOR
CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE

 Less or no education

 Come from poor background

 Lower social groups

 Poverty

 Unemployment

 Underemployment

 Socio-economic conflicts(isolation)

 Health issues

sem 6 Humanities, prepared by Mary Thomas

INFORMAL SECTOR
 Nakas

 Labour agents

 Temporary or seasonal works

 Internal migration – push & pull

 Labour camps

 Rural – urban disparities

 Gender inequality

 Child labour

 Women labour

 Migrants Workers’ Age on Arrival

 Illegal migrants
INFORMAL SECTOR

 Occupation of Migrant Workers - low skill level

 Facilities Available at Workplace

 Exploitation by employer

 Illegal & immoral works

 Activities of Self-Employed Workers

 Location and Nature of their Activities

 Working Hours

 Provision of Leave

 Provisions of Welfare Schemes

sem 6 Humanities, prepared by Mary Thomas

MIGRANT WORKERS

 The Interstate migrant workmen Act 1979

This act deals with the employment of interstate migrant workmen and to
provide for their conditions of services and for matters connected therewith.

It applies to every establishment and contractor who employs 5 or more

interstate migrant workmen.

 International Labour Organization(ILO)

 Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)

sem 6 Humanities, prepared by Mary Thomas

Do the migrant workers living in cities have benefited
from the spectacular economic growth in their
surroundings?