CHENNAI, Jun 16: Former Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai, who has launched
his own political movement in the State after leaving the party, has claimed
there is a growing involvement of migrant workers from northern States in crimes
across Tamil Nadu.
He made these remarks on x.com following the tragic assault and death
of a three-year-old girl in the Thiruvallur district, where a 19-year-old migrant
worker from Bihar was arrested. She died on Monday. The police said the girl
knew the accused and that he had lured her with a biscuit from her house.
Annamalai cited multiple recent arrests involving individuals from northern
States, including cases of chain-snatching, assault and severe sexual harassment
in and around Chennai.
While he acknowledged that migration for work is natural, he heavily criticized
the State Government for lacking a tracking mechanism for incoming workers.
He demanded that employers and contractors be mandated to submit comprehensive
details of their migrant workers, including their native places, current workplaces
and residential addresses.
His statements have ignited a fresh political controversy over law and order.
Opposition parties have used these recent crimes to accuse the ruling TVK Government
of failing to ensure public safety.
While supporters call for tighter regulation, critics caution against making
broad generalizations about the entire migrant worker population, highlighting
that they are an essential part of the State's economy.
Regulations for migrant labour in Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, labour regulations for migrant workers primarily centre around
the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (RE&CS) Act, 1979 and the State's specific ISM
Portal.
The core guidelines dictate the following requirements:-
Employers must register all out-of-State workers on the Tamil Nadu Labour Department's
Inter-State Migrant (ISM) portal.
Registration is mandatory even if a labourer is hired for a single day. It
requires submitting their Aadhaar card and active phone numbers.
Any establishment or contractor hiring five or more interstate migrant workers
must obtain a legal license through the Directorate of Industrial Safety and
Health (DISH).
Migrant workers are legally entitled to equal pay for equal work, matching
the wages of local Tamil Nadu labourers in equivalent roles.
Contractors must issue a personalized passbook to every migrant employee. This
document details their employment terms, home State and wage rates.
Employers must legally provide medical facilities, clean drinking water, suitable
housing, a "displacement allowance" upon initial hiring and travel fares to
and from their home State.
Annamalai's political movement
Annamalai officially resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and launched
a new political movement that will eventually transition into a regional political
party.
He has confirmed his intention to build a grassroots-based organization focused
on common man politics, with plans to contest the 2031 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
After months of reported friction regarding party strategy and alliance decisions
in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai formally exited the BJP on June 5.
He is currently structuring a non-profit and grassroots political movement
under the banner "We Are the Leaders".
The movement focuses on ethical politics, bringing fresh, diverse, and professional
common people into the fold, and avoiding the concept of "permanent MLAs or
MPs".
Annamalai is establishing a centre for ethics and politics to train volunteers
first, with the specific intent of contesting the 2031 Assembly elections.
Annamalai claims to have a vision behind his new political movement.
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