The lockdown has already started showing us the adverse effects on the unorganized sector workers. The exodus of migrant workers as widely seen over social media and reported in various news reports is the fallout of the crisis. India has about 40-50 million seasonal migrant workers who work in construction sites, factory production and service activities. Since businesses are closed and establishments are shut, migrant workers have run out of work and are seen returning to their native places. Some have reportedly died returning on foot due to the suspension of busses and trains. Some are stuck in places of their work. With no work, no income or savings, it is extremely difficult for them and their dependent families to survive. A recent survey of migrant workers by a Delhi-based NGO Jan Sahas has found that 90% of those surveyed have already lost their only source of income, while 42% of them did not have food rations for a single day. Another survey of 11,000 workers has found that 96% of them have not received food rations from the governments and 89% have not been paid by their employees during the lockdown. This paper discusses about the effect of lockdown on the unorganized sector businesses as well as workers.

Keywords: COVID-19, Worker, Lockdown, Unorganized Sector.

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