Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has issued orders on 29 March to the State Governments and State Authorities, pertaining to resolving the migrant labour crisis as a fallout of the Lockdown imposed across the country.

The Home Secretary observed that the movement of a large number of migrants across the country is happening in order for them to reach their home town due to scarcity of food and money.  As a result of this movement, there is a serious violation of the lockdown measures on maintaining social distancing.

Following orders were passed to the State and UT governments and related authorities to assess and deal with the situation of migrant workers, the effective implementation of lockdown measures and mitigating the economic hardships of the migrant workers.

• State / Union Territory Governments shall ensure adequate arrangements of temporary shelters, provision of food, etc. for the poor and needy people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures in their respective areas.
• Migrant people, who have moved out to reach their home states/home towns must be kept in the nearest shelter by the respective State/Union Territory Government quarantine facilities after proper screening for a minimum period of 14 days as per standard health protocol.
• All employers, be it industry or Shops or Commercial establishments, shall make payment of wages to their workers, at their work place, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown.
• Wherever the workers, including migrants are living in rented accommodation, the landlords of those properties shall not demand payment of rent for a period of one month.

If any landlord is forcing labourers and students to vacate their premises, they will be liable to action under the Act.

In case of any violation, the respective State/UT Government shall take action.  The District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police will be personally liable for implementation of the above directives and lockdown measures.