BENGALURU/HYDERABAD: With lakhs of migrant workers stranded in various places raring to go back home, many states are staring at a labour crisis when economic activity resumes and are urging guest workers to stay put.
“We intend to resume economic activities soon. We have appealed to employers to protect workers’ interest and pay their salaries. It is my sincere request to all the migrant workers to stay back and co-operate with us,” Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said on Friday.
Home to about 8 lakh migrants, excluding the IT/ITeS sector, Bengaluru depends on them to keep its economy going. Contractors, builders, trade unions and activists TOI spoke with said 45%-50% of them may go back to their villages, and this could impact t