A blurred mapping of internal female migration

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) estimated internal migration to be 27% from June 2020 to 2021.
• While normative literature often portrays migration as male-dominated, women, particularly of working age, make up a significant portion of migrants.
• This raises concerns about employment barriers due to post-migration conditions and falling Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR).

Challenges in Data Representation

• National surveys, like the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), present an inaccurate picture of female migration.
• For instance, surveys only ask the respondents regarding their primary reason for migration.
• Primary reasons for migration recorded include marriage (81%), family migration (10%), employment (2.42%), and education (0.48%).
• There is no provision to know the secondary reasons/motivations such as climate shocks and food insecurity.
• PLFS data during the COVID-19 pandemic showed low employment figures for migrant women, possibly due to underreporting and definitional issues.

Underreported Employment

• Definitional issues lead to underreporting, as women often choose informal employment to balance domestic duties and financial contributions.
  • According to national surveys, only those women with some form of verbal or written contract with their employer are considered part of the labour force.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests migrant women engage in casual employment (agriculture, construction, domestic help) not adequately reflected in the data.

Human and Social Capital Barriers

• One important factor restricting the entry into the labour force could be the need for more human and social capital.
• According to PLFS data, 85% of women possess less than 10 years of education, posing potential challenges in this context.
• Despite similar education levels between migrant and non-migrant women, migrants face proportional underemployment, exacerbated by a lack of social networks post-migration.

Post-Pandemic Challenges

• Women's labour activity showed a dismal recovery after the COVID-19 lockdown.
• 55% of women never returned to their places of employment and those who did earned only 56% of pre-pandemic income levels.

Political Neglect and Policy Implications

• Female migrants are not a considerable vote bank, leading to a lack of political attention and targeted policies.
• Current policies often overlook the specific needs, motivations, and conditions of female migrants, impacting their struggles and marginalization.

Recommendations for Change

• National surveys should collect more comprehensive socio-economic data post-migration, including access to social security benefits.
• Time-use data for migrants should become a norm to better understand the challenges faced by unemployed female migrants.
• On a broader scale, a change in narrative is required, starting with an increased collection of female-specific data.
• It will inform progressive policy making and address the unique needs of female migrant workers.