IS INDIAN CORPORATE WORLD READY TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS OWN FAILURE TO TAKE CARE OF MIGRANT LABOUR DURING LOCKDOWN AND IGNORING ITS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

I worked in Private sector Companies of Repute for 35 years and mostly in Manufacturing sector including MNCs at higher Management levels.

My observations and Apprehensions about future scenario of Indian Corporate Sector engaged in Construction,manufacturing and Service Industries are as under without Malice to any one.

Why Migrant workers are Important for India Inc.

1.Only Minimum Wages are paid to them.

2.They make good labour mix as against Locals (backed by Local Politicians) to avoid Labour Strikes.I had a bitter experience while working at Murbad in Maharashtra.

3.They can easily be asked to work overtime on base salary only and not paid overtime as per the Rules under the Factories Act.

4.They are mostly employed through Local Contractors and not in Direct Employment.

5.This type of Labour is least troublesome and are mostly obedient.

6.Their efficiency level is much higher as compared to local labour.

7.Most of this labour class come from U.P. and Bihar region and leave their families back at their respective Villages only.

WHAT BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS COMMITTED BY INDIA INC DURING COVID LOCKDOWN.

1.Failure to take care of this back bone in the hours of crises.

2.Failure on part of Big Wigs of Industry and Bodies Like CII-ASSOCHAM-FICCI-PHDCCI etc.etc. to coordinate with Local Government at political level for safe journey of these workers back to their home state rather than  just treating them like animals.

3.No doubt donations poured into PM care funds but was providing transport and food directly to poor migrant labour that costly affair.?

CONSEQUENCES WHICH INDIA INC SHALL NOW FACE AND RATHER MUST FACE

1.Many of Migrant Workers may not return to their workplace so early as for them Village and family is most important.

2.Many are upset over the ill treatment meted out to them by India Inc.They made up their mind not to come back.

3.What if person like Mr.Yogi or Mr.Nitish Kumar attract New Companies in their respective states and absorb these ignored workers within the state only.

4.Cost of Labour may see a steep hike along with cost of litigations with Local Labour Unions as India INC.failed to foresee this in advance.

Rakesh Kumar Singhal-FCA.ACS.