Stop exodus of migrant workers, Bajwa urges Punjab govt

Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa urged the Punjab government to stop the exodus of migrant workers from the state to avoid a 'self-made' economic crisis after the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.

New Delhi: The Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa wrote to Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday over-promoting the “aforementioned exodus” of migrant labourers from the state.

"Punjab government in the last 40 days has provided shelter, food, and healthcare facilities to migrant labourers but after permission from Union Govt to open travel for stranded migrants, Punjab Govt has started process to send lakhs of migrants back which has left industries confused. The factories are opening in certain zones but labourers are leaving which will impact manufacturing and ultimately the economy of the state," Bajwa said.

Stop exodus of migrant workers, Bajwa urges Punjab govt

“The fact is that 10.8 lakh labourers who have applied for return are an integral part of the state economy. Without these individuals available for work, we will face the labour crisis which will irrevocably hinder our economy. With workers gone, I fear our factories will have no labour to restart production post lockdown. What is the plan of government? How will economy function in labour shortage?”, Bajwa added.

"The government should encourage workers to stay otherwise the state will enter into a self-made economic crisis. This is to mention that the Punjab Government has sanctioned Rs 35 crore, in the first phase, towards its share of the migrants’ cost of transportation by the Indian Railways. The first special 'Shramik Express' train, carrying 1200 stranded migrants, left Punjab on Tuesday for Daltoganj, Jharkhand," he further added.

This shifting of position has left many industries confused. After all, in these troubled times, the drivers of our state economy look to the government for direction, he wrote, stating that he has received pleas of help from various industries due to the exodus of migrant workers.