COVID-19 and the unorganized migrant workers of India — the social work response

COVID-19 pandemic triggered the outbreak of unemployment and insecurity particularly to the migrant workers in the unorganized sector of India. Short-term migration was an important feature of the Indian labor force due to the dependence on the informal sector for employment on a large scale. The nationwide lockdown left shock waves to the mass of migrant workers, who went jobless and devoid of social security benefits. In this background, this study is an attempt to emphasize the creative social work responses by way of immediate relief measures and Government schemes, in safeguarding the unorganized migrant workers. Further, the study suggested the development of an inclusive model for ensuring sustained livelihood patterns by creating job opportunities in the organized sector. This calls for structural reforms in the labor market to reduce the density of migration in search of employment and income and to create balanced regional development.