NEW CHALLENGES FOR KARNATAKA’S MIGRANT WORKERS

Syllabus:

  • GS 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable section of the society.

Why in the News?

The Karnataka government’s proposed ‘quota-for-local’ Bill raises concerns about the impact on migrant workers in the gig sector, highlighting potential exploitation and challenges in accessing social security.

 NEW CHALLENGES FOR KARNATAKA'S MIGRANT WORKERS - UPSCSource: India Today

Introduction

  • Migration has reshaped Karnataka’s gig economy, with many workers from across India coming to cities like Bengaluru for opportunities.
  • As the state proposes local job reservations, the implications for migrant gig workers—already vulnerable to exploitation—could be severe, potentially worsening their access to jobs and social security.
Karnataka’s Local Reservation Bill

Local Candidate Criteria:

  • Must be born in Karnataka.
  • Domiciled in Karnataka for 15 years.
  • Must be able to read, write, and speak Kannada.
  • Should have a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language or pass a Kannada proficiency test.

Training and Relaxation:

  • 75% reservation for locals in non-management jobs.
  • 50% in management jobs in the private sector.
  • Industries must train local candidates within three years if qualified locals are unavailable.
  • If no sufficient locals are available, companies can apply for relaxation:
  • 25% relaxation for management jobs.
  • 50% relaxation for non-management jobs.

Judicial Perspective on Domicile Quotas

  • DP Joshi vs. State of Madhya Bharat (1955): Concerned fee exemptions for local students. The court did not address the broader issue of regional domicile.
  • Andhra Pradesh Domicile Law (1970s): The Supreme Court struck down a law that mandated domicile quotas for jobs in Telangana as unconstitutional.
  • Dr. Pradeep Jain vs. Union of India (1984): The Supreme Court criticized domicile quotas for fostering parochial loyalties and undermining national unity.
  • Andhra Pradesh Law (1995): The SC invalidated a law granting extra marks for Telugu-medium students.
  • Recent Andhra Pradesh Case (2019-2020): A law similar to Karnataka’s Bill was challenged. The AP High Court questioned its constitutionality, and the case is still pending.

Impact of the Quota-for-Local Bill on Migrant Gig Workers in Bengaluru

Background of Migrant Gig Workers

  • Case Study: Padma, a beauty services provider, migrated from Sikkim to Visakhapatnam, and then to Bengaluru due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • She now works as a gig worker for a home delivery services company.
  • Work Environment: She values the cash payments and flexibility provided by her gig job, which is crucial after her husband’s accident.
  • Her sister also works through the same company.

Current Gig Economy in Bengaluru

  • Gig Workforce: Bengaluru, known as the Silicon Valley of India, has a gig workforce of approximately 200,000 people.
  • This workforce is supported by tech platforms like Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato, and Dunzo.
  • Diverse Backgrounds: The gig workers include a mix of locals and migrants from various states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and northeastern states.

Proposed Quota-for-Local Bill

  • Government Proposal: The Karnataka government proposed a ‘quota-for-local’ Bill aiming to prioritize local residents for jobs. However, this Bill has faced resistance from corporates and has been shelved for now.
  • Potential Implications: If implemented, the Bill could impact migrant workers by potentially limiting their job opportunities in favor of locals.
  • This could affect the livelihoods of many who have migrated due to limited opportunities in their hometowns, driven by declining agrarian economies and high unemployment rates.

Distribution and Trends of Migrant Workers in Bengaluru’s Gig Economy

Overview of Migrant Gig Workers

  • Data Availability: There is limited data on the exact number of migrant workers in the gig economy, but the workforce comprises diverse roles, including delivery personnel, home service providers, and autorickshaw drivers.
  • Role Distribution: Migrant workers are predominantly found in roles such as delivery and home services, while autorickshaw drivers are mostly local.

Distribution by Location

  • G. Road, Koramangala, and HSR Layout: These areas have a higher concentration of Hindi-speaking migrant workers.
  • Rajajinagar: This area has a lower percentage of migrant workers compared to other locations.
  • Electronics City: Features a significant number of delivery personnel from other parts of Karnataka, such as Mandya, Tumakuru, and Ramanagara, as well as migrants from Andhra Pradesh and other states.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Increased Migration: The pandemic has led to a notable rise in the number of migrants joining Bengaluru’s gig sector, reflecting a shift in employment trends due to economic pressures.

Specific Insights from Gig Workers

  • Food Delivery Partners: According to Vinay Sarathy, president of the United Food Delivery Partners’ Union, the proportion of migrant workers varies by city location.
  • Drivers for Aggregators: Mohamad Inayat Ali from the Karnataka App-based Drivers’ Union notes that inter-State migrants make up about 5%-10% of drivers. These migrants are often from Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Car Rental Schemes: Migrant workers are more likely to participate in car rental schemes offered by platforms like BluSmart, which require less initial investment and present lower financial risk.

Challenges Faced by Migrant Delivery Workers in Bengaluru

Job Transition and Income

  • Pasha’s Experience: Pasha, a delivery partner in Bengaluru, recently shifted from a full-time delivery job to a part-time role, finding additional work as a security agent due to changing rate cards and increased risks associated with delivery work.
  • Income Stability: local workers often take part-time roles while migrants tend to work full-time, as locals have better access to additional job opportunities.

Exploitation Risks for Migrants

  • Local vs. Migrant Workers: Locals have an easier time securing additional jobs and navigating workplace issues compared to migrants. Migrants, who often face language barriers and lack local connections, are more vulnerable to exploitation.
  • Lack of Support: migrant workers are more likely to face exploitation because they lack local support. Unlike local workers, migrants may not challenge lower pay rates or unfair practices due to fear of repercussions and limited support.

Workplace Dynamics

  • Resistance and Compliance: Local workers may protest against unfair practices, whereas migrants might accept lower conditions due to their risky situation and fear of losing their job.
  • Companies often leverage this disparity to maintain control over working conditions and compensation.

Impact of a Local Reservation Bill on Migrant Gig Workers

Direct Impact on Gig Workers

  • Limited Effect: A local reservation Bill may not directly affect gig workers, as they are not classified as traditional employees.
  • Their status as independent contractors mean they are less likely to benefit from employment reservations.
  • Increased Vulnerability: The Bill could worsen the already risky conditions for migrant workers by reducing their opportunities in the formal sector.

Potential Changes in Workforce Demographics

  • Shift to Formal Sector: If reservation policies are implemented, more locals might move to formal sector jobs, potentially reducing the demand for gig work among residents.
  • Reduced Opportunities for Migrants: According to Mohan Mani from the Centre for Labour Studies, reservations could limit migrant workers’ chances of securing formal jobs, further marginalizing them.

Social and Economic Considerations

  • Focus Shift: The introduction of reservations might create a narrative that pits locals against migrants, diverting attention from the core issue of worker exploitation.
  • Existing Options for Locals: Soujanya Sridhar of Aapti Institute notes that local workers often have better job options due to their social networks and may be less inclined to take low-value jobs that migrants often fill.

Migration and Social Security

  • Continued Migration: Reservation policies are unlikely to stop or reverse migration trends. Migrants will continue seeking work in cities despite these policies.
  • Increased Fragility: Such measures could heighten the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers, providing them with fewer protections and fewer avenues for fair work.

Conclusion

The quota-for-local Bill highlights the challenges faced by migrant gig workers, who are often exploited and lack protections. Addressing these issues requires focusing on better working conditions and fair opportunities, rather than pitting locals against migrants.

Source:The Hindu

Mains Practice Question:

Evaluate the impact of demographic changes due to local reservation policies on the employment conditions and security of migrant workers in Bengaluru’s gig sector.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/the-karnataka-gig-workers-bill/