During the COVID-19 lockdowns more than seven lakh people mostly migrant workers had returned to Odisha losing their job and to escape from the deadly virus. Seeing the migrants’ situation, the government has made all round efforts to create job opportunities for the returnee job seekers, even declared to double the man-days under MGNREGA scheme.

But, barely two months later the Covid-19 pandemic and lock down, it has come to public notice that migrant workers from different parts of Odisha have started returning to their workplaces in whatever way possible fleeing the Covid infection, right across the country, to stave off hunger.

Migrant returnees mostly from the districts of Bolangiri, Ganjam and Gajpati have no second thoughts in boarding the bus sent by their employer – a carpet maker – to take them back to the Bikaner-based facility. Even in coastal district of Jagatsinghpur, a group of youth migrants returned to their workplace in Udaipur – a bag making unit, by bus through contacting a labour agent of the unit. 

It has been reported that on reaching the workplace, the workers are undergoing a COVID-19 test. And after testing negative, they are being allowed to join the workforce. This time, most of the employers have been assuring better payment with a condition that they will not step out of factory premises. Interestingly, a few factory owners are also offering advance wages for three months before employing them.

Though the State Government have given advance rice and ₹1000 to returnee migrants in view of Covid pandemic, apart from feeding oneself, there are lots of requirements to be met through hard cash. Workers in Ganjam, the most migration prone district of Odisha, are also getting impatient to return to work spots as their savings are depleting fast.

In the meantime, both the employers and workers are desperate as different sectors have started opening following easing up of lockdown. Undoubtedly, this situation has been forcing the migrant workers to return to workplaces across the country.

Therefore, this time, the government should set up a robust mechanism to streamline the labour migration. Workers should return to their workplace through registered labour agencies so that wage as well as working hours could be fixed.

Here the concern is that under desperation to return to workplace, workers should not choose anything coming in their way. Hence, the State Government should come up with a platform for both employers as well as workers to ensure migration takes place through the legal process. It will make sure that workers will not be subjected to pain and agony which they experienced while returning home after lockdown.