What must an employer provide when hiring workers from other states in Tamil Nadu?
Short answer
Under the OSH Code, an inter-state migrant worker is entitled to the same benefits as other workers at the establishment, plus a lump-sum journey fare to their native place and back once a year, paid by the employer. If a contractor defaults, the principal employer can become liable. The provisions apply from 10 such workers.
Main obligations
| Obligation | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Equal wages and benefits | Employer or contractor | Same as other workers in that establishment |
| Yearly journey allowance (to and fro) | Employer | Section 61; the Code fixes no amount |
| Records of migrant workers | Employer and contractor | Kept in the format set by rules |
| Liability on contractor default | Principal employer | Can recover from the contractor |
What helps migrant workers stay?
Accommodation, food the workers are used to, and a supervisor who speaks their language matter more than wage differences of a few hundred rupees. A room near the unit and a supervisor who speaks the workers' language often decide whether a migrant crew stays past the first month.