The impact of COVID-19 on migrant women workers in India

Abstract

COVID-19 has emerged as a crisis that has impacted all spheres of human life. The pandemic has disproportionately impacted the world’s poor population in terms of livelihood and survival. India witnessed a massive crisis among migrant workers. In this context, this paper explores the impact of COVID-19 on women migrant workers and their families, analyzing qualitative interviews in two localities in Delhi and in Gurugram in Haryana State. Six themes were developed from the interview data about the impacts on, and experiences of, women migrant workers: loss of livelihood and resulting debt; compromises; captivity and the burden of responsibility; disrupted access; emotional geographies of COVID-19; and insufficient support. The study underlines the dismal state of women migrant workers and their families and argues that urgent policy interventions are required to address the impoverishment they are experiencing. The strengthening of social security measures is of the utmost importance.