2.3 Quality of life for migrant workers

2.3 Quality of life for migrant workers

The parameters change as the typology of people changes to measure the quality of life. For the migrant workers fulfilling the basic needs and achieve basic livability standards, they have to face a lot of primary level issues that can be easily solved. In terms of wage policy in India, it has been observed that male and female migrant workers get lower wages than minimum wages. They do not get minimum, wages stipulated under the minimum wages Act, 1948. Long and flexible working hours, combined with low wages are reported in the case of most seasonally migrant workers in India. (Singh and Iyer 1995, Krishnaiah, 1977, Salve, 1990 cited in (SALVE, 2017). Therefore, it should be noted that ‘the principle of equal pay for equal work’ is not also strictly adhered to the fixation of wage rates for contract basis male and female seasonal migrant workers

Migrant laborers are one-third of India’s population that work long hours and are still paid low wages, and work in unsafe environments, besides the other ills of social isolation and poor access to basic services, such as education, water, sanitation, and health. Therefore, it should be noted that ‘the principle of equal pay for equal work’ is not also strictly adhered to the fixation of wage rates for contract basis male and female seasonal migrant workers. It has been observed that migrant workers are not aware of their rights or labor rights, like the right to equality, right to work, right to secure work, a living wage and a decent standard of life, security scheme, health, right to form an association, right to freedom, cultural and educational rights, etc. (SALVE, 2017). Types of major and minor factors are described for further study.

The factors considered while measuring the quality of life by Owcrarek is,

• Material living conditions (income, consumption, and material conditions) • The productive or main activity • Health

• Education

• Leisure and social interactions

• Economic security and physical safety • Governance and basic rights • Natural and living environment • The overall experience of life

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