Return Of 60% Migrant Labour in Pune

In its recent survey conducted by Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), the industry body has found that 68% workforce has returned to work in over 150 industries in and around Pune. The real estate body Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has also reported over 60% migrant labourers back while Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro) claims that 90% workers have resumed work. CREDAI president Suhas Merchant said that the construction industry is also limping back to normalcy as most sites have resumed work. “About 45,000 workers or 60% of those gone back to their native place have returned to Pune. Most developers have restarted their construction sites though they are facing fund crunch,” said Merchant. After lockdown was announced, around 80% workers, mostly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, returned home as government allowed special trains. During unlock, as trains began operations, workers too have started coming back, said another developer. CREDAI hopes that with more trains restarting soon in Maharashtra, more workers will return to city. Earlier last week, Maha-Metro also claimed its workforce back to full strength in the city. Currently, according to Maha-Metro public relations officer Hemant Sonawane, 4,500 labourers are working on Pune metro sites. “This is double the strength as compared to July-August, when Maha-Metro resumed work, post lockdown,” Sonawane said on Thursday.