NHRC Urges Rights-Based Reforms and Stronger Welfare Measures for Migrant Workers

May 13, 2026 : The National Human Rights Commission has called for urgent systemic reforms to strengthen the protection and welfare of migrant workers, stressing that policy frameworks alone are insufficient without effective implementation, interstate coordination and accountability from both governments and the private sector.

During a core group meeting held in New Delhi on the theme “Protecting Migrant Workers’ Rights: Shared Responsibility of Government and the Private Sector,” NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian highlighted the severe challenges faced by migrant labourers, particularly those employed in the unorganised sector.

Justice Ramasubramanian observed that migrant workers often struggle due to language barriers, unstable housing, mobility issues and the absence of organised support systems. He noted that although India has enacted strong labour protections, including laws recognising migrant workers since 1979, implementation gaps continue to undermine workers’ rights.

He emphasised the need to move from a compliance-driven approach to a rights-based labour ecosystem, calling for stronger interstate coordination, portable social protection systems and improved enforcement of labour laws. The NHRC Chairperson also proposed involving linguistic and community-based associations in coordination councils to better support migrant workers in sectors such as construction, hospitality, domestic work and small businesses.

NHRC Member Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi expressed concern over delayed or denied wages, stating that non-payment of remuneration defeats the very purpose of migration for employment. He stressed that migrant workers should receive adequate wages, housing, healthcare and educational facilities for their children to live with dignity. He also advocated for creating a database of accompanying family members to ensure access to welfare benefits.

NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal highlighted that nearly 28.9% of India’s population consists of migrant workers moving between rural and urban areas. Referring to hardships witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, he pointed to exploitation in outsourced employment systems, including wage deductions by contractors through digital payment mechanisms.

He praised welfare initiatives such as the One Nation One Ration Card scheme but stressed the importance of bridging the gap between legal protections and ground-level implementation. He also cited an Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad study indicating that welfare investments significantly improved factory worker efficiency and family welfare outcomes.

The discussions included participation from government officials, industry representatives, international organisations and policy experts, including representatives from International Labour Organization, United Nations Development Programme and International Organization for Migration.

Several stakeholders highlighted gaps in existing labour governance systems, especially for migrant workers employed in MSMEs and the informal sector. Discussions focused on improving data integration through the e-Shram portal, enhancing ESG-linked disclosures on migrant welfare and creating real-time migration tracking systems.

Among the key recommendations emerging from the meeting were the creation of a national migrant workers’ dashboard, portable welfare systems across states, migrant-sensitive urban planning, living wage benchmarks, mandatory contractor welfare declarations and stronger grievance redress mechanisms with fixed timelines. Participants also proposed migrant-specific disclosures under ESG and BRSR reporting frameworks and called for integrating migrant welfare into supply-chain accountability standards.

The NHRC stated that it would further deliberate on the suggestions received during the meeting before finalising recommendations to be submitted to the Union and State Governments.