Even as it struggles to flatten the coronavirus curve, India finds itself on the cusp of two tectonic shifts – both concerning the future of migrant workers. They appear to be moments of crisis and yet, they are both opportunities in disguise.
India, the second most populous nation in the world and with the sixth highest number of Covid-19 infections, is currently seeing an exodus within its borders while being at the receiving end of one from outside of them.
The nationwide lockdown, called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, led to a complete closure of all economic activity, forcing millions of migrant workers out of jobs and money while being separated from their families.
In their desperation, many of them are moving out of the cities, where they form the backbone of its labour force, to return home to the hinterlands.
While these images played out, something similar was happening across the Arabian Sea. Thousands of Indian migrant workers from around the world, but especially from the Gulf countries, were being brought home in special flights during the past four weeks. Thousands more are expected over the next one month. At least one-fifth of those flown back are migrant workers and indications are, thousands more are waiting to return.
On the face of it, both events signal grave challenges to India’s social fabric and its economy.
India has the distinction of sending out the most number of emigrants – its diaspora is 17.5 million-strong, according to the UN. In many ways, both tangible and otherwise, migration is very crucial for the country. It not only brings in the money – India received $83.1 billion in remittances in 2019, the highest in the world – but also acts as a safety valve for job seekers while allowing its citizens to pick up skills, cultures and knowledge.
However, with global financial systems set to go into a tailspin due to the pandemic, migrant workers will inevitably suffer job losses, forcing them to return home. Kerala, according to one estimate by an expert with the local government, might see up to 300,000 workers returning from West Asia alone.
Apart from having to provide jobs to these returnees at a time when the country’s unemployment rate is at 24 per cent, the exodus will also burn a massive financial hole.
Remittances account for 2.8 per cent of India’s gross domestic product and there are indications that this will go down by at least 20 per cent, the World Bank has estimated.
Their invisibility of India's millions of migrants is best captured by the fact that in its eighth decade of being independent, the country is yet to have precise data around the number of the workers
Something similar is likely to unfold on the domestic front.
This week, many states across India gradually started opening up and reversing restrictions imposed during the lockdown. But as the country emerges from its lockdown and industries open their shutters, many businesses are discovering that the migrants who ran their assembly lines are no longer around.
Already beset by losses, enterprises are struggling to resume production. Cheap labour, often employed in casual jobs without any security or social cover, ensured that businesses could operate at low costs. Without them, businesses are staring at hard choices.
After all, migrant workers form the backbone of the labour force, especially in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi. Academic work estimates that India has at least 100 million temporary and seasonal migrants who, typically, migrate for short durations. In all, they contribute to about 10 per cent of national GDP, estimates from the United Nations Development Programme show.
It is gloomy – but it does not have to be.
India’s links with its migrants have yielded plenty of fruit and yet, these links have always been tenuous, built as they are on an unequal relationship.
The truth is that for decades, the Indian state has made itself invisible in the process of migration, leaving its citizens to navigate much of the arduous, frustrating and even exploitative journey by themselves. From seeking information on possible jobs to skilling themselves, from figuring the journey to integrating into a new life, the Indian migrant has, for the most part, been alone.
On the domestic front, these workers – whose value urban India is today discovering, in their absence – have been marginalised for decades. Their invisibility is best captured by the fact that in its eighth decade of being independent, the country is yet to have precise data around the number of the workers.
Brushing aside the invisibility, they have pervaded every aspect of daily life in the cities – from driving Uber cabs to helming hotels and restaurants to street-vending essential commodities.
Over 400 million – more than the population of the US – are informally employed in India, according to the International Labour Organisation. Many of them are migrants. They are employed in jobs with little security and, often, are paid less than the measly minimum wage of roughly $3. Workers are rarely even registered in either the source or destination states and, as a result, remain invisible, with little social security. Forced to survive on little savings, a casual firing from their jobs leaves them exposed to hunger, disease and penury.
It would be wrong to blame the pandemic for their suffering – it has only made it visible.
However, this is India’s chance to rectify the situation.
As migrants return to its shores, India should not just welcome them but also ensure they are re-integrated into social and economic life. The lack of institutionalised mechanisms has meant that they face disappointment and disillusionment as their skills and knowledge find few takers, particularly the blue-collar workers.
Rafeek Ravuther, the director of the Kerala-based Centre for Indian Migrants Studies, tells me that the need is for their skills to be acknowledged and respected. “So, when these workers come back to India now, we must urgently understand their skill-levels by collecting their data and then facilitate their re-entry into economic life here so that both the migrant, as well as the country, could benefit.”
A start has been made. Governments at various levels are drawing up plans, from conducting skill surveys to institutionalising simple such measures as registering all migrant workers. States such as Kerala are also looking at ways to re-integrate them.
It has taken India more than seven decades and a pandemic to realise how crucial migrant workers are. The question is: will it make long-lasting changes that benefit its migrants and market?
Kunal Purohit is a Mumbai-based journalist who writes on issues at the intersections of development, politics, gender and migration
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ronaldo's record at Man Utd
Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09
Appearances 230
Goals 115
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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STAGE%201%20RESULTS
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Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
'Midnights'
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Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Nadhra, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
