Kerala still does not have accurate data on the number of migrant workers in the state.
According to data provided by Labor Minister V. Sivankutty in the just concluded Assembly session, the Labor Department has not conducted any official survey to ascertain the number of migrant workers in the state.
The lack of accurate data is a major obstacle to ensuring the welfare of migrant workers, including fair wages and access to social security systems.
According to labor department data, more than 5.16 lakh migrant workers have registered under the state government’s Aawaaz health insurance scheme.
Migrant workers are also registered under the Interstate Migrant Welfare System and the Athidhi Portal and the Athidhi App. As many as 4.2 million migrant workers have registered with the Athidhi portal/app and 1.65 million workers under the inter-state welfare scheme for migrant workers, which is mainly channeled through the Kerala Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, the data shows.
However, the Economic Survey 2024 cites a 2021 study by Parida and Raviraman that puts the number of migrant workers at nearly 31 million. The Economic Survey reports the largest number of migrant workers in construction (17.5 million), followed by manufacturing (6.3 million).
Interestingly, the number registered under Aawaaz touched 5.16 lakh in August 2023, according to the Economic Survey 2024 released by the State Planning Board.
Last year, the state cabinet decided to develop a unified portal and mobile application for the registration and data collection of migrant workers. It was announced that those who register will be assigned a unique Aadhaar-based number and the information will be made available to agencies dealing with migrant workers. However, it follows from the minister’s answer that steps towards the development of a unified portal are still ongoing.
Additionally, the Cabinet has decided to introduce an ordinance (Kerala Interstate Migrant Workers Registration Ordinance) in 2021 to make registration mandatory for all migrant workers. Four years later, according to the minister, the government is still preparing the regulation.
The decree foresees penalty provisions for migrant workers who are not registered and their employers. As well as making social security systems more accessible to workers, it is hoped that registering their details at police stations will make it easier to identify those with a criminal record.
All procedures relating to the registration and employment security of migrant workers are currently carried out under the Interstate Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act 1979.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 20:32 IST
