“What Drives Workers’ Reverse Migration From SMES: Economic, Social, Health or Workplace Factors Post Disasters?”

Abstract

Reverse migration, the phenomenon where migrant workers return to their native places, has garnered significant attention, particularly in the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) post disasters like Covid-19. This study explores the factors influencing reverse migration from manufacturing units of SMEs, focusing on the perspectives of migrant workers from neighboring states. Drawing from primary data collected through surveys and interviews, the study identified social, health, sources of relief, and food insecurity determinants as key contributors to reverse migration decisions. The insights from the study indicate social, health, sources of relief, and food insecurity determinants have significant positive impacts on reverse migration, whereas economic and housing factors have either weak or non-significant influence on reverse migration. This is contrary to previous research studies, which focus on reverse migration of migrant workers from unorganized sectors such as construction, hospitality, tourism, and other service sectors. Pull factors such as feeling sense of relief at being in native place, a sense of sustainable life, emotional fulfillment, advance decision to travel arrangement, greater sense of relief and quality of life at home played vital role in their decision to return to their native place. The findings indicate a nuanced interplay among these factors, with the COVID-19 pandemic intensifying the reverse migration trend. The study emphasizes the need for policy interventions, such as improved accessible healthcare systems near SMEs, localized economic development, conducting mandatory disaster awareness and preparedness programs, and support systems to address the challenges and optimize the potential of migrant workers. These are initiatives that can help minimize the risks and build confidence in workers’ minds to restrict reverse migration in any disaster-like situation, like a pandemic, in the future.