DN&V Correspondent
Lucknow, May 26: The Log Party said that the UP BJP government plan under its “migration commission” to restrict other states from hiring labourers from UP without its permission is ill-conceived and unconstitutional. The Log Party said instead of helping the lakhs of labourers who have returned from several states following coronavirus pandemic, it would harm their interest in post-covid scenario.
The spokesman of Log Party said here on Tuesday that neither state government can restrict the movement of workers any other parts of the country nor can force other state government to seek its permission before providing employment to them. The spokesman said apart from being absolutely illegal and illogical, the move is also unworkable, as migration is largely for private sector with very little of them getting into government job. The spokesman said the UP government has all the rights to provide them social security, insurance and employment but “seek-our-permission” condition is just a political ploy to assuage the hurt feelings of labourers who are quite angry with the state government over their transportation and unimaginable sufferings. The spokesman said move also seems to be aimed at garnering support of these largely village-based labourers in forthcoming panchayat elections due in October-November 2020 by such political tactics. The spokesman said government’s plan to take on power to give permission for employment elsewhere ill serves those it is professing to protect.
The spokesman said it is also fundamental tents of Constitution which under article 19 guarantees every citizen right to migrate to any part of the country in quest of better job opportunities and prospects. The spokesman said even the Supreme held that the right to live, a fundamental right and the right to work are integrated and interdependent. The spokesman said such a plan will un-necessary put other states at loggerheads with UP. Already Maharashtra, whom the UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has targeted has reacted sharply, the spokesman said and added the state government cannot decided “who works where”. The spokesman said with the arrival of labourers the number of unemployment is UP has already gone up by 58% in the last two years, which would further go up. The spokesman further said what UP may find challenging is the decision’s implementation. For one, a very small percentage of migrant workers are hired directly by state governments — it’s almost always private enterprise which employs migrant labour. Plus, in most cases, an inter-state migrant does not migrate through a state-based agent or a contractor who can be tapped by the government. Even in areas of informal and low-skilled employment like construction and brick kiln work, migrants are often independent.
