International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

Internal migrants are largely engaged in informal sector, under poor work conditions with hardly any employment or social securities, that enhances their challenges and vulnerability. The paper attempts to examine the living, health and working conditions of migrant families during COVID-19. It also analyses the determinants of workdays lost during the lockdown period by gender. Further, it explores the vulnerabilities and challenges of the families, and their coping strategies during the pandemic. The paper is based on primary data collected from a random sample of 330 migrant families, consisting of 318 male and 184 female informal sector workers, in Kochi City of Ernakulam District, Kerala, during January-April 2023. Simple averages, percentages, ratios, diagrams and regressions have been used for analysis. The findings showed that majority of the migrant families belonged to Tamil Nadu, followed by Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Regardless of gender, they possessed low human capital endowments. Almost all of them possessed Aadhar card, but only few had bank accounts, ration cards, voter IDs or insurance. A vast majority lived in unauthorised colonies, with poor hygiene and infrastructure facilities. Both male and female working migrants were mainly self-employed, followed by regular, casual and piece wage employment, earning much better incomes than at their native villages. During COVID-19 lockdown, majority of the migrant families remained in Kerala and were vaccinated against COVID-19. Male and female workers respectively lost nearly 100 and 80 workdays during the pandemic. An analysis of the determinants of workdays lost revealed that work experience and regular employment significantly reduced male workdays lost, whereas employment as domestic help decreased it for females. During the lockdown, while a few families borrowed from relatives, the rest received assistance from their employers, Government, religious institutions and civil society.