Gendered Discrimination of Migrant Labourers in India: A Human Rights Perspective on Exploitation, Social Exclusion and Access to Justice.

Women, in all social categories, fall in the rungs of marginalized groups, across the globe, especially so in Third World countries. This paper aims to study the gendered discrimination faced by female migrant labourers in India, highlighting the tenets of human rights violations and the structural inequalities that aggravate the exploitation of women in the labour force. Women migrant labourers represent one of the most vulnerable strata of the Indian informal economy. Being employed in roles of domestic labour, construction workers, and agricultural labours, they face various challenges including wage disparities, hazardous/ unsafe working conditions, and limited access to social protections. Harping on the intersectional feminist lens of analysis, this discourse delineates how gender, compounding with other social stratifications in India, exacerbates the marginalization of female migrant labourers.

The research focuses on the legal loopholes and assistance, that worsens the condition of women labourers. It also delves into the influence of cultural and social norms on the socialization of women, which multiply challenges in their lives and thus make them easily succumb to social vulnerabilities. Through a combination of case studies and qualitative analysis of existing conditions, this study sheds light on the culturally internalised structural inequalities that command the lives of migrant labourers in India. Thereby, it calls for stronger enforcement of labor laws, gender-sensitive policies, and greater inclusion of migrant women in policy dialogues. By centering the experiences of women migrant workers, the research aims to contribute to the broader understanding of human rights issues in Third World countries, with a particular emphasis on labor rights and gender justice in India.