Investigating the conditions of vulnerability experienced by migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Kerala, India

Bibliographic Data

ID3145192
AuthorsPeter Mcgowran (0000-0002-5043-6430, PhD is Senior Research Associate United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security Germany, corresponding author), Mishal Alice Mathews (0000-0003-2980-8911, Institute for Environment and Human Security), H D Johns (0000-0002-3639-6145, Institute for Environment and Human Security), Hannah Johns (PhD is Senior Research Associate United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security Germany), Mary C Harasym (Research Assistant United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security Germany), Emmanuel Raju (0000-0002-2348-1850, Associate Professor, Global Health Section University of Copenhagen Denmark), Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson (0000-0001-6124-2730, PhD is Associate Professor, Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction University College London United Kingdom), Sonja Ayeb‐karlsson
Year2024
Volume48
Issue2
Pagese12614-e12614
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/disa.12614
PMID37811865
OpenAlexW4387439437
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited66

This paper analyses findings of the 'PROWELLMIGRANTS'2 project, which qualitatively investigated COVID-19 impacts on migrants' well-being and mental health in Kerala, India. It draws on a novel conceptual framework that combines assemblage-thinking with theories of social contracts in disasters. The paper first explores how past development processes and contemporary migration policies in Kerala, and India more widely, generated conditions of vulnerability for migrant workers in Kerala prior to the pandemic. Next it shows that Government of Kerala interventions, in some cases supported by the central Government of India, temporarily addressed these vulnerabilities during the pandemic. In acknowledging the helpful response of the Kerala government, we problematise its stance on migrant workers during 'normal' times and speculate that permanently addressing these conditions of vulnerability would be a more logical approach. We acknowledge this involves overcoming many wider barriers. Thus, the paper also contains national-level policy implications

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Computer security · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Forensic engineering · Geography · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Migrant workers · Occupational safety and health · Outbreak · Pandemic · Pathology · Poison control · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Suicide prevention · Vulnerability (computing · Computer Science · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Employment and Welfare Studies · Engineering · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Virology

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