Mumbai: As Maharashtra moves into the first phase of its Mission Begin Again, an attempt to revive the economy as the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted, the state’s industrialists are faced with a labour conundrum.
There is a massive shortage of labour in the state due to the large-scale exodus of migrant workers from Maharashtra. And while there is a sizeable Marathi workforce to replace them, industry sources say that many Marathi industrialists themselves are reluctant to employ local labour.
The hesitance in employing Marathi workers is driven by perceptions in the state’s industrial sector that they lack work discipline, are unwilling to learn new trades, are inclined towards political and trade unions — seen as pressure tactics by businesses — and are insistent on the implementation of the reservation quota.
This is an unusual situation in Maharashtra, says Sudhir Mutalik, a Nashik-based industrialist. He is the founder and managing director of Positive Metering Pumps (I) Private Limited, which caters to the process industry and counts refineries and nuclear power plants among its clients.
“The Marathis were never pushed to a wall. But today, the Covid-19 circumstances have done it,” Mutalik told ThePrint. “A majority of the Marathis are reluctant to work hard and this will definitely impact the small and medium scale industries who need labour urgently. The problem is that the Marathi worker has a mental barrier about hard work. They have to change their attitudes.”
Mutalik and many others ThePrint spoke to are also uncomfortable with the political connections the local labour force brings with it.
“The problem with the Marathi workforce is that somewhere or the other they are connected to politics and this interference is stifling,” Mutalik said.
“Another problem is the tantrums of the Marathi workforce. Unlike the migrant workers, who take a month off in the summers to go to their native places, the Marathi workers are bound by familial compulsions of ceremonies and family gatherings. If they are not given leave constantly, some local politicians will make calls to us. Accommodating these tantrums becomes very difficult.”
According to Mutalik, the labour void will ensure a slowdown in scores of manufacturing units dotted across the various industrial zones in Maharashtra.
But trade union leader Bhai Jagtap isn’t buying the arguments, though he said he understood the reluctance.
“If a worker wants to be a part of a union, it is his right,” said Jagtap, president of the Bharatiya Kamgar Karmachari Mahasangh.
“The Marathi workforce has to be employed by the industries. This is non-negotiable. They cannot refuse jobs saying that the Marathis are not hard working.”
Marathi writer Sanjay Sonawane agrees with some of the industrialists’ assessment but blames politicians for aggravating the problem.
“Historical reasons are responsible for the killer instinct and competitiveness missing from a majority of the Marathi people,” Sonawane said. “To add to it, the feudal mentality of the Marathi politicians have ensured that they find it difficult to shake off the sense of subservience.”
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The labour conundrum
According to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2019-20, the number of migrants in Maharashtra from other states stands at 38.13 lakh. The state government data puts the migrants who have left the state during the Covid-19 national lockdown at 12 lakh, with many thousands still queuing up to leave.
The migrants workforce was predominantly employed in refineries, foundries, sugar mills, cotton mills, iron and steel mills, among others. They are engaged in over 48 kinds of jobs, according to the economic survey data.
The migrants have had a historic presence in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai, as the first of them were brought here by the British in the 19th century. Back then they were brought to work as dhobis (washermen) and were centred largely to south Mumbai.
They later spread to the northern and eastern suburbs of Mumbai. According to a research paper by Professor Aruna Pendse of the Mumbai University, generations of those early UP migrants still live in the Walkeshwar and Malabar Hill areas in South Mumbai.
The migrants from Bihar began streaming into Mumbai from the 1980s, while the major wave began in the 1990s. While the UP migrants belong largely to Azamgarh and Mau, the Biharis belong to Darbhanga and Purnia.
Migrants, however, are a touchy issue in Maharashtra with the native parties such as the Shiv Sena, which is in power, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), making them the fulcrum of their politics for decades.
But no party has escaped the cloud that has hung over migrant workers.
In November 2008, the then Congress-NCP government brought in a resolution, which stated that priority should be accorded to ensure that a minimum of 80 per cent of the workforce in all micro, small, medium, large and mega industrial enterprises should comprise of local residents.
In March this year, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government announced that it plans to bring in a legislation that would make it mandatory for the private sector in the state to reserve 80 per cent of the jobs to the domiciles living in the state for more than 15 years.
Industrialists say that even when the 2008 government resolution wasn’t implemented in full, they found it difficult to employ Marathi-speaking labour.
“They would rather open a paan shop outside the factory gates than work and earn a consistent salary inside it,” said one Marathi industrialist who did not want to be named.
One major concern is the effect that local labour will have on the wage bill.
Sources say that the advantage of employing migrant labourers is that they are not affiliated to the workers’ unions or local politicians. The migrant labourers are recruited by agents who, in turn, supply this workforce to the small and medium scale industries and the construction firms often at lower than minimum wages. These agents get hefty commissions from the small and medium scale industries and the construction firms for providing them cheap labour.
Depending on the nature of the work, the minimum wages range from Rs 50 to 300. Local labour, however, does not come cheap, thereby higher wages will have to be paid.
“The local politician and the unions will step in now to decide on a wage rate for the local workers. This may not be in parity with what we can pay them post the lockdown. It is a no-win situation for us,” said an industrialist who has a manufacturing unit in the Aurangabad MIDC (Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation).
According to another industrialist based in Amravati, the Marathi workforce can do much more but they simply do not want to.
“They are in a comfort zone, so lack the will power and killer instinct to grow or develop skills. The fact that the son has to be employed when the father retires is not working for many of us as many of them are not skilled,” said the industrialist.
Those industries that have foundries will be worst hit as the migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar enjoyed a monopoly here.
“The migrant labourers can work in very high temperatures without complaint. Somehow the local labour does not want to work in the foundries,” said Mutalik, the Nashik industrialist.
Echoing Mutalik’s sentiments, another industrialist said that employing local labour will have a cascading effect on the price of goods.
“Now hundred per cent of the labour force, whether they are skilled or unskilled, will be from the local population. We have no choice. The immediate fallout of this will be a steep increase in the cost of labour,” said the industrialist who has a medium scale manufacturing unit at the Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial belt in Pune district. “This is bound to increase the price of the goods we manufacture.”
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The fear of strikes
The Marathi affiliation to workers unions has made small and medium industrialists fearful of work disruption.
Prolonged workers strikes are not new to Maharashtra. Even after 38 years, the 1982 textile mill workers strike called by union leader Dr Datta Samant in Mumbai is a case pointed out by many.
The year-long strike, for better wages and a bonus, crippled the textile mills and pushed the workers towards poverty. Many families are still recovering from the after-effects of that strike.
The strike and violence at the switchgear division of Crompton Greaves located in the Nashik MIDC in May 2016 is another example of disruption. The incident earned Nashik the moniker, ‘Manesar of the South’.
This workers strike for better wages turned into a flashpoint between two unions — the Congress-backed All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the CPM-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). It eventually took a violent turn.
Violent strikes at the Pimpri-Chinchwad MIDC too are quoted as examples by industrialists to support their reluctance to employ the Marathi workers.
But not everyone is batting for the migrant labour force.
For M.N. Lakhote, who recently retired as the plant head of Ashok Leyland, employment of the workforce depends on the nature of the industry.
“The local population is preferred in the engineering and machinery industries. The idea of setting up industrial zones in the rural areas is to give employment to the local population. We have to develop their skills and make them employable,” Lakhote said.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in one of his Facebook Live addresses, has now requested Marathi workers to take up jobs vacated by the migrants. His views were echoed by Maharashtra Minister for Industry Subhash Desai.
“This is the best opportunity for the Marathi manoos as there are thousands of jobs available,” Desai said at a press conference last month.
“The Maharashtra government will set up an online employment registration board for the local workforce. The employers and the workforce will share this platform. This will help employers find suitable and skilled workers. The workers can register at this online centre and find jobs suited to their skills.”
The MNS is also pushing the Marathi workforce to grab the jobs.
MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande told ThePrint that recent job losses across various sectors had made the Marathi manoos more accepting of the available jobs.
“Over the past week, the MNS has been surveying the joblessness amongst the Marathi people and we found that they are willing to do any kind of work,” Deshpande said. “They are not inclined towards hard work because of the literacy factor. Why will an educated Marathi worker do a job which was being done by an illiterate person?”
Deshpande added that there is a change in Marathi mindset but warned that even if there isn’t, industrialists will have to employ the local workforce. “No industrialists can refuse to employ the Marathi manoos. The locals have to be given jobs, if they do not do so then we will have to intervene,” he said.
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Industries who will not employ more than 90% of locals should be forced to move out to UP. If you want to stay in Maharashtra employ manoos otherwise move out.
This is the exact reason why even Marathi industries like us are reluctant to employ you. Your reply should have been “Give us work and we will prove you wrong”. But see the language you have used. With mentality of yours, it is not going to change. People like YOU are responsible for this unemployment.
I’m partially agree with the article as marathi pepoles are lazy and not willing to work etc.. but this is not true I know the people in my circle are working as labourer like hamal . in factory it is true that local labour have to support their family who is living with them in urban areas and we all know how much expensive to live in city like Mumbai so they can’t settle for less wages . 5 -6 years ago at my native place factory was started and their the factory labourer are outsourced . factory official said that they don’t want to hire local as they already outsource labours from outside
they didn’t gave any chance to local
THE ONLY WAY THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED CAN BE SOLVED IF ALL 3 PARTIES CAN WORK TOGETHER: GOVT, EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE
A: GOVT – FOR NEXT 10 YEARS GOVT SHOULD HELP BUSINESS OWNERS BY DIRECTING BANKS TO LEND MONEY AT 3-4% ONLY
– GOVT SHOULD BE “MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY” AND SHOULD CHANGE THE TAX SLABS FROM CURRENT 30 PERCENT TO MERE 10%
WITH THE CONDITION THAT NO EMPLOYER WILL HIRE ANY EMPLOYEE FOR ANYTHING LESS THEN 50,000/MONTH.
B: EMPLOYER – SHOULD MAKE EMPLOYEE WORK VERY HARD 5-6 DAYS A WEEK
– AS PER GOVT GUIDELINES HE IS OBLIGED TO PAY ATLEAST 50K/MONTH
– SHOULD SET A CLEAR EXPECTATION IN TERMS OF PRODUCTIVITY/ LEAVES/PAID LEAVES/VACATION/OVERTIME/HEALTHCARE BENEFITS/LUNCHTIME……JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
C: EMPLOYEE: SHOULD PUT HIS SOUL AND EVERYTHING BEHIND TO DELIVER HIS BEST
SHOULD BE LOYAL/FAITHFUL TO HIS EMPLOYER
SHOULD NOT KEEP ASKING FOR RAISE IN SHORT TERM…..FIRST DELIVER OVER THE YEARS THEN ASK NOONE IS STOPPING
BOTTOM LINE: UNLESS ALL THE THREE PARTIES WONT WORK TOGETHER THINGS ARE GOING TO REMAIN CHALLENGING IN THE MEDIUM TERM…….. EMPLOYERS NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT COST…..PAY YOUR EMPLOYEE MORE AND ASK GOVT TO REFUND THEM A HUGE CHUNK IN THE FORM OF TAX REBATES OR GOVT SHOULD COME UP WITH NEW TAX SLABS
– 5% TAX ON INCOMES UPTO 25 LAKHS
– 10% TAX ON INCOMES UPTO 50 LAKHS.
– 15% TAX ON 50 LAKHS TO 1CR
– 20% TAX ON ABOVE 1CR TO 2CR
– 30% TAX ON ABOVE 2CR TO 5CR
– 40% ANYTHING ABOVE 5CR TO INFINITE.
This is a lopsided view of the Marathi labour.
Many people have rightly commented on the aspects like labour exploitation, migrant labour being more hard working as a global phenomenon etc.I do not want to repeat the same.
If Marathi labour was that bad, how come in the initial decades of industrialization in India, all kinds of industries got set up in Maharashtra in preference to many other states? Surely, Marathis were not that bad then as described in this article . I know many other factors also attracted the capital to Maharashtra;but certainly no one would have compromised with bad labour attitude( the reason Kerala never got such industries).
Also, how about politicians arising out of the so called’hard working migrant labour’? It is only a matter of time that they will start dictating too and interfering the way local politicians are alleged to be doing.
In Mumbai and Pune,Nashik etc it’s already happening. The non-local dominated taxi and auto unions in Mumbai are a case in point.
Also, local labour would have been more loyal and steadfast instead of running away at the first sign of trouble.
Today you get calls from companies like Airtel,Vodafone or even private banks where the caller is unable to speak in any language other than Hindi. In the past, one argument for denying white caller jobs to Marathis was that they did not speak good English. So now what happened to that expectation while employing only Hindi speaking semi literates?
So please be objective and do not vilify Marathi labour. Yes, they do have their faults and failings but so do others. One would have preferred a more involved and comprehensive reflection on what plagues Marathi labour psyche ;instead all this article seems to attempt is to profess a particular bias and justify the obvious unfair treatment given to the Marathis in employment across all walks.
Thank the British and Parsees for giving you Bombay. Even 100 years ago the factories of Mumbai (basically packaging for exports goods manufactured at Kanpur, Benares, Amdavad etc.) employed migrant labourers only.
Biased and nonsense article.Obiviously its written by a outsider.Its blatantly criticizing the maharastrians.Labours also has rights and its right to demand facility.
Most of the crime committed in mumbai is from.this same up bohr migrant belt.These people.should be grateful for employment instead if cribbing.
No matter what these liberals say, this is completely true. As a Marathi business owner we too are unable to employ Marathi workers. We have tried this far too many times but they always have their issues. This is extremely detrimental to company health. Up/bihar workforce is needed
Article is good but could be better. It does not provide the view of Marathi (or any local) labour.
(1) Industrialists expect labour to work for 10-12 hours and call it hard work. It’s inhuman. Local people will be happy to toil for say 8 hours.
(2) And expecting leaves for essential functions is perfectly human and allowed in all white collar jobs. Then why not for labor?
(3) Industry wants to exploit labour and save cost. And they blame locals. This is human.
The industrialists don’t want to give even minimum wage or provide security. These people should get only local workers
Just because you cannot exploit Maharashtrian workers like UP Bihar workers , call them lazy ?
Labourers are also human . Muthalik from Nagpur is far far away from understanding this .
The Print , expected better journalism from you .
My comment is lost
This is a worldwide phenomenon. Why separate out only Marathi workers? Indeed there are challenges in dealing with local work force & politics everywhere in the world including Maharashtra except China.
Migrants are preferred worldwide because they work extra for same or less money. Being away from extended family & friends, they tend to accumulate leaves & utilise them in single trip back home. So frequent absence at work is not there.
Indians are preferred in US & other western countries basically because they are seen as cheap labour who comply to above mentioned conditions. But it’s a win-win situation because Indians working abroad get the advantage of currency exchange rate.
Local people in US & Europe work for 5 days a week. French are even demanding 4.5 days! Indians when go there (Including Maharashtrians) are ready to work 15 hours a day & 7 days a week for over time pay.
Closer at home even big industries are reluctant to set up factories in Kerala because of fear of Trade Unions but the same Keralites are considered workaholics & highly productive in the Middle Eastern contries. Also in Middle Eastern countries salaries are not equal for all migrants. Westerners get paid much more than Indians or Asians for same work…
So please don’t demonise Marathi Manoos. In the Eastern states from where the migrants come to Maharashtra, local people & politicians even don’t allow them to set up factories easily, working in those factories is a long shot.
Rs 50 to 300 a day ? That too in Mumbai ? Thats exploitation and Iam not a communist !
In TN a lady farm labourer gets 300 a day with no specific productivity norms and men get 450 per day with free housing, water, electricity etc !
I agree about the labour rate of 50 to 300 being dismally low and that too, in an expensive place like Mumbai. That is exploitative.
I would agree with the writer for the simple reason that for one of the most industrialized and one of the richest states in India called Maharashtra, the local marathi population has largely remained poor. This cannnot be explained other than what the writer and the industrialists are claiming. Must be true. On the other hand look at Gujarat. Gujaratis are very enterprising and very hard working, look at their prosperity!! Need I say say more!!
This is very true, I am a Maharashtra myself, school, college, engineering in Mumbai so have grown up in Mumbai, but have experienced this too.
I have been employed into Middle East and Africa from last 22 years.
Once I needed around 50 helpers in UAE and being from Maharashtra I have good contacts in Mumbai.
During selection process major questions I was asked by candidates
1) How many days leave in a week
2) What is working hours, what is lunch time duration
3) Do we close immediately at 5pm
4) Within how many days can I come back to Mumbai
There were very few, almost nil questions about, the kind of job, work environment, I mean the enthusiasm was not there
This made me also to rethink on this employment
I have a friend of mine, who some how secured a Maharashtra Government job, (in Octroi) in those days
He told me, I go to office at 11.30am, take lunch from 1pm to 3pm, come back to office at 4pm and out by 5pm !!
He then says dont worry, my job is secure, no one asks, it is Government !!!
I can help you out for any issues, but make sure you come with a deal, I do not do anything free
How can Maharashtra progress with this attitude, its a sorry state of affairs !!
Jai Maharashtra !!
Very true they need to change their mentality which is ideally impossible.
With All The Stupid Unions … Maharashtra Is Still Ahead … Imagine Without Unions What Will Be The Situation …
There Are Unions In Other Parts Of The World But They Work For Betterment Of Workers & Industries Also … But In India Particularly MAHARASHTRA … Unions Work For Themselves … They Dont Care For Either Workers Nor Industries, Thru Which The Whole Country & State Gets Tax Revenue …
Paisa Mila To Worker & Industries “BHAAD ME JAAYE”.
This Is The Bitter Truth !!
MH is developed by outsiders. Accept it.
A like situation of earlier “DATTA SAMANT”unionism is about to recurr again.more the employment of “lazy minded” (I am als a marathi person)workers with direct or through somebodys connection getting the favours in working places(like choice/prime posting in govt jobs),,leading to more clash of unions, and after shivsena’s fall out from politics, they as political force enter this game, INDUSTRY will totally be going to other than maharshtra state.!!
Pl try and retain good woorkers ,even calling them personally back to work with incentive offers.
If people who even after understanding the shortcoming in mindset of marathi workers still want to push, ARE HEADING FOR A GRAVE CRISIS AFTER A DECADE
The industrialists writer has listed .. has he asked them about are they following labour law..daily wages law.. safety measures..do they care about the living standard of their work force…this is the world where everyone is looking to make profit.. and these industrialists are no exception infact they are the ones who exploits the migrant workers offering them way below amount as an salary/ wages and few to nothing as an facilities or minimum dews..these migrant workers accept the job as its better to earn something than doing nothing at their native place…since they are aline here they can accommodate dozen people in one room and save and send the money to family….but for local labour this is not the case..they have families .. they are aware about or at least have minimum knowledge on their rights and wages they should be getting…so these industrialists cant exploit them and if it happens locals will definitely go to unions/local politicians and it will be trouble for themm..hence they pass the argument of local workers are lazy… just take example now..during lockdown a these migrant workers are thrown out if job with no money or minimum compansation … no issues for industrialists as these are temporary jobs like of use nad throw..they know if one goes two will come for the replacement…
Despite Being the liberal foundations , the print is advocating industrialist views. Every worker should have right to avail leave , flexible working hours and other basic facilities. Marathi workers are educated and aware. They ask for their rights and other state workers also support them in cause. Off course industrialist don’t want such aware workers , they want only people with no voice. This article is biased and against the labour laws.
One glitch I’d like to point out in the text although I largely agree with the overall perspective of trade unionism among marathi workers. AITUC is not a trade union backed by the Congress. That’s INTUC. AITUC is a left trade union and one of the oldest in India. CITU is indeed backed by CPM.
The article is bang on the point.
Another inportant factor is that the average Maharashtrian’s psyche is a government job.
Secondly, the local has roots here in terms of a house and identity unlike the migrant who has to strive for everything from the scratch. So the zeal and hunger is missing in the locals.
Therefore the migrant is willing to work at any cost and anywhere unlike the local who may prefer a choice over compulsion.
Thirdly, the fear of loss of job always keeps the migrant on a leash whereas the local is willing to take his chances.
Is the writer contractor for exploiting industrialists?
Wow industrialists wants more free slaves to earn their maney without having any resistance, guess what if you want to make good money, do it properly!! Give proper wages, fixed work hour, proper health care. You say migrant workers were good, how many of them were able to even survive a month on their savings in the lockdown even though they work very hard? Guess what very few. Cause you guys exploited them for your earnings
There is a unique system in Kerala called nokku cookie. Suppose you have brought your house hold material in a truck. You call cookie to unload it. He will quote an atrocious amount. You refuse and start unloading your self. The men will wait smoking beedies. After unloading is completed he will demand some money. This is called nokku coolie. This amont is for unsolicited supervision. And you do not pay, they will create untold problems for you and make your life miserable. That is why there are no industries in Kerala and agriculture is dead for want of labour.
Migrants have no skills they are cheap but have no commitment. India needs skilled labour and high tech building techniques . Migrant labour should stay at home build in their states .
No industry ready to come to Aurangabad.Reason is well known.Industries use to come for making profits and not for getting loss or blackmailing.
Very one kiddish analysis. There are so many industries where Maharashtrians are employed especially factories. They are doing a good job. The labour condition across all states is the same when it comes to hiring a local. Being it Haryana, Chennai, UP / Bihar etc. Every local has his way of throwing tantrums. Focusing only on Marathi community is very immaturish.
Yes 100% true, am from Kerala and since 1981 am staying here in Mumbai. In my own Industry (catering, event mangement) certain areas only Maharastrian can work, they are really hard workers no doubt, but they will not allow employers to exploit them which is correct. No one is supposed to do any hardwork for keep filling employer’s earnings, this will lead to exploitation. Nothing wrong in demanding legitimate break for their social life, religious gatherings etc.
Pls observe and see Kerala’s union activities will be surprised and you will not find a single labourer from local, all are from north and the so called bengalis (allegations are on that they all are from Bangladesh).. The oberservation through this blog not correct
Very True
true
Problem is not with the Maharasta peoples, problem is with the Maha Govt. which is still a “dudh pita guwa batsa”. The govt. there is immature and unable to handle situations. What UP govt. has done like scrapping of labour law for 3 yrs. is a immediate solution to allow Industries stay alive. Otherwise they will move to China.
Its True. It’s not about Marathi people it’s same across all states, locals never like to work hard.
This is the reason that armed forces do not allow posting hometown. posting is minimum 500 km away so that no political influence can be done .
Didn’t the industrialists say the say same thing about bengali workers in bengal in the last decade?
I have grown up hearing that lbegalis are lazy, politically inclined and good for nothing. Now they sre saying the same thing about marathi locals. The truth is whenever the industrialists face any opposition to their exploitation express they blame the locals.
It’s sad but true. The locals are not hard working, do not like to do extra work, take lot of leave, affiliated to trade unions which makes it difficult for the companies to hire them. The Marathi manoos need to change their mindset.
u know that locals are not working very hard. have u ever worked with them hand I hand. everything depends on the theory that every action had an equal and opposite reaction. neither the Marathi manoos nor u have to change their mindset. Maharashtra and it’s Marathis are known for their true attitude. no need to bow down in front of any Charlie’s drama. If u to get your work done, get it with respect especially in Maharashtra or else. and why should one do extra work. bloody nonsense.
A unbalanced write on good topic.
From name I believe author is marathi and bringing own baise to the topic.
Some Problem with Marathi labour is correct….but are they only to Maharashtra .It can seen in all local work force every where be it Kerala or Harayana…. author should have commented on this.
Why does a business hire migrant labour
To save money
How
Without following valid law…. simple
No minimum wages
No safety
No work hours
Isn’t this exploitation of migrants?
Author should have commented
Unskilled migrant labour without any opportunity at home is victim in Maharashtra and u cannot blame this to marathi manoos or their views
Every migrant is ready to compromise
Be it unskilled skilled or IT professionals
Every where be it Maharashtra Kerala Harayana or USA
Expected a balance
I agree but the small scale industries were sleeping when this migration was happening they should have helped them when they were leaving from here that time nobody thought how this ppl will live without money so this Bosses didn’t bother now u hv to suffer
SS with its voluble support for Maharashtra manoos is now running the govt.Vilifying the migrants for decades they have taken the misery of them to new heights during the lockdown.Noe is the time for S S to reeducate their pampered segments to perform and be disciplined.Sanjay Raut could put his raging eloquence to better use now.Having kicked out the migrants can SS cope with the results
This is all Marathi wash and rationalisation of discourse to deny jobs. Infact like whites in USA, Marathis are their counterpart-both of them suffering from market fundamentalism and cost cutting and efficiency and what not. Don’t get surprised if there is backlash as it is happening in the USA.
What Is So Surprising.Whichever State Son Of The Soil Feels He Is Better Than Anyone else. Demands Become Rights In Comfort Zones.When Kicked Into The Waters immigrants Learn To Swim.Survival For The Fittest Becomes The Asking Price And Deliverables.
If MNS intervenes or any other political parties then maybe the industrialists will have to decide on continuation of the businesses. There are many other states in the need or with better environment for the industries hence it will end up with the losses to the government in the form of taxes and others. More will be unemployed. Government need to work around a solution for everyone, this is the only solution.
Look at the mind set of Industrialist… He want cheap workers.. or free workers to run their industry … Even after so much earnings they don’t want to give proper salary… and in return they don’t even think of their standerd of living … Marathi manus know when need to stop if the company not loyal with marathis so.. my msg to those industrialists… As they are free to go out of Maharashtra or go to philipines were labours are chep to open the industry
it is not just about working hard. it is getting wages for your hard work. if u go to a market to buy vegetables, u pay for them if only they are fresh and healthy. same is applicable to Marathi manoos and all migrant labours. u should give them their dues. if wages are given correctly then both industrialist and labour would have a bonding with each other. do you think that industry owners didn’t have money to help labour survive for at least two months. think on it and reply.
If the jobs are bifurcated and outsourced to local service provider, business mindset will develop. This will help in change of mindset of local population. Not just the workers, management too need to change its mindset. It can train local people for outsourcing. Daily wage should be shifted to performance related one for improving the effeciency. All stakeholders including management, politicians and workers need to learn new skill-sets.
1. Worldwide the cheapest labour is The Migrant Labour
2. Local labour cannot be exploited as he/she has local support base.
3. Migrants come only for making money hence work over time as most of them do not have families with them , they do not have to divide their time between family and work as that of local.
4. Migrant being away from the native is not obliged to attend marriages or funerals , which is must for a local . Thus local labour needs more leaves than migrant.
5. Local labour has to oblige the local.labour leaders as he and his family has to have life long existence with the local leadership. Thus along with the labour rights comes the leader’s and union’s obligation. Thus using labour force to exploit the business owners is done by the leaders in some cases.
This is typical of local people everywhere in Punjab,Delhi,Rajasthan,Gujarat,Karnataka,Tamil Nadu,Kerala & Goa who think the menial or not jobs are not for them.In Maharashtra almost more then 90% of laborers in construction. road building and bridges are migrants from UP,W.Bengal, MP and Bihar. Locals are stupid and lazy to make good living working in those industry.
It’s 2020 and we are still discussing this?
This is basic economics and nothing to do with Marathi manoos.
This is employer Vs. labour issue.
In Maharashtra if you have small capital then you can setup business because there are end number of desperate migrants. So basically it’s exploitation.
These people come to Maharashtra in desperation to change their lives but they end up working for small factories in Dharavi or Bhiwandi for very small amount.
So considering the above situation any resident of Maharashtra (your propaganda-Marathi) will not work for small amount as this small amount is not be enough to support his family in Mumbai or Maharashtra. On the other side most immigrant families live in villages and the working man lives in Mumbai in 10X10 room with other 5 roommates. In conclusion it’s exploitation.
These small wage job is not changing anyones life except their opportunist employers.
Already many politicians have milked this issue. I heard The Print was doing real journalism but you basically quoted opportunist businessman maligning Marathi community and MNS politicians to gain views.
Whatever happening in Maharashtra is just pure labour exploitation.
Adv. Ritesh A Sawant
It’s 2020 and we are still discussing this?
This is basic economics and nothing to do with Marathi manoos.
This is employer Vs. labour issue.
In Maharashtra if you have small capital then you can setup business because there are end number of desperate migrants. So basically it’s exploitation.
These people come to Maharashtra in desperation to change their lives but they end up working for small factories in Dharavi or Bhiwandi for very small amount.
So considering the above situation any resident of Maharashtra (your propaganda-Marathi) will not work for small amount as this small amount is not be enough to support his family in Mumbai or Maharashtra. On the other side most immigrant families live in villages and the working man lives in Mumbai in 10X10 room with other 5 roommates. In conclusion it’s exploitation.
These small wage job is not changing anyones life except their opportunist employers.
Already many politicians have milked this issue. I heard The Print was doing real journalism but you basically quoted opportunist businessman maligning Marathi community and MNS politicians to gain views.
Whatever happening in Maharashtra is just pure labour exploitation.
Adv. Ritesh A Sawant
Absolutely humbug article.
Where is the data substantiating the claims made in the article about Marathis being not hard working, Trade union oriented, lazy etc.
It is not for nothing Maharashtra has been the most industrialized state in the country for decades. It is because of the , skill, hard work, discipline and sincerity of Maharashtrian people. Ask any industrialist worth his salt and he will tell you about the hard working nature of the Marathi people. Of course people here are aware of there rights as human beings and hence refuse to get exploited.
But for this to call them not hard working is totally unfair.
I expected better reporting from THE PRINT( Headed by Honourable Shri Shekharji Gupta) than divisive agenda and such prejudiced trash articles.
This is not a properly researched article. In the organised manufacturing sector in Pune and Nasik a large majority of the workforce is Maharashtrian. In certain sectors like construction Maharashtrians are not present but it is not right to make such sweeping statement as Maharashtrians lack the right skills or drive
What this means is that businesses were abusing migrant labour force. Since the migrants were poorer, more desperate and did not have access to any support system, it was easy to abuse them. And now these same businesses are angry that they are being denied the right to abuse workers.
I am Surprised to see that people are also taking sides of labour contractors and industrialists In this matter.
Working in inhuman conditions in very less payment is nothing to be proud of. It is not professionalism. It is blackmail or compulsion. Please get out of medieval mindset
Seems these industrialists wants slaves who should not say any word and should be able to work in inhuman conditions. And for this they are blaming locals as locals don’t wants to work as slaves..
Reality is migrant workers work in far less wages, works in inhuman conditions, works long hours 12 or more hours of labour a day and still don’t utter a word. Their job does not require any skill as these are hire and fire jobs..they are doing it because at their native place conditions are very bad
Industrialists are milking them as they wants more profits and less expenses on salaries nothing else and that’s the real reason..
The sons of the soil tend to behave like sons in law of the soil. All over the world. Check who is driving the cabs in New York.
Yes, it is true and the fact that even Marathi Industrialists themselves refuse to use more locals not only now, but earlier as well. They prefer Migrant workers from other states. Apart from all these reasons you have quoted in the article. Basically, they feel lazy leading to the lower output production. Thanks to the unions, although the union leaders are aware of these facts nothing they are doing to stop their tendencies. only, if there are thefts invovled, then only they do support management that too with substantiates proofs.
Thanks
Nagesh Rao
The writer is quite right. Marathi labourers can be compared to Kerala labour force. They thik salary is for marking attendance, not for work. Marathi people with less education prefer to be peons sitting outside the chamber of the boss, rather than dirty their hands with work! Rural area may be different. But, I have seen such attitude in Mumbai.
Enough for those illogical options seems stupid
The mindset of local people in Delhi,Punjab,Rajasthan,Gujarat,Karnataka,Maharastra and elsewhere need to be changed.The locals think they are better and want more money and thus shortages.The construction industry to build buildings and roads and bridges is totally supported by migrants.
For someone living in these state and city, the living expenses are much higher than a person coming from Bihar/UP/MP sharing a room with 10 other people and sending the money back to support their family who does not have to bear the expenses of the city, so there is a huge difference between what is needed to survive.
I won’t count all of these cities as one, but the labour richer eg Delhi produces more skilled labour than unskilled Labour in general, will cost much more as well.
If pride is the only merit on the table then its useless, there must be some skills to back them up.
It’s sad but true. The locals are not hard working, do not like to do extra work, take lot of leave, affiliated to trade unions which makes it difficult for the companies to hire them. The Marathi manoos need to change their mindset.