Labour Migration is on the rise in India, so are crimes against them

(14 Aug.2006)There has been a substantial rise in labour migration, as well as crimes relating to unsafe migration in India, said experts at the regional consultation of International Labour Organisation and South Asia Regional Initiative in Delhi. "Almost 50 percent migrants are women," revealed the Centre for Social Research, an NGO, stating, that labour migration across the world has increased to 191 million in 2005, an increase of 35.5 per cent in the last 15 years. The poor and uneducated women and young males, fall prey to unsafe migration practices, which often lead to serious crimes like human trafficking, it was stated. "Poverty driven women migrants are vulnerable, as they have less negotiation power and are ready to work in appalling conditions," said the Director of Centre for Social Research Dr Ranjana Kumari. Concentrated in traditionally female occupations such as domestic work and entertainment, care-giving and nursing, these women face higher risks and gender discrimination due to lack of awareness about local laws, socio-cultural practices, etc.," added Dr Kumari. Urging the government to put in place specific policies to ensure safe migration, the NGOs have urged the government to develop a multilateral framework for a rights-based approach to labour migration such as "Safe Migration Policy", which looks at issues of safe migration, overseas employment policies and administrative framework. The NGOs have urged the government to set up "special cells" for providing free information and legal aid and stricter action against those involved in unsafe migration.