The Migrant Majority: Unpacking Navi Mumbai's Employment Dynamics

In Navi Mumbai's small-scale industries, a majority of the workforce comprises migrants, despite regulations requiring 80% local employment. MNS leader Gajanan Kale calls for audits to assess Marathi-speaking workers and highlights growing tensions in colleges over language preferences.

Navi Mumbai's small-scale industries are dominated by migrant workers, according to a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader. This finding comes amid regulations mandating that 80% of jobs be reserved for locals, a rule allegedly not being enforced.

The MNS Navi Mumbai city unit president, Gajanan Kale, has called for a comprehensive audit by the state government to verify the number of Marathi-speaking employees in these industries. Kale emphasized the importance of adhering to local employment laws.

Additionally, concerns have been raised about the rising Marathi versus non-Marathi tensions, notably in educational institutions, highlighted by an incident involving a Vashi college student. Kale urged the state government to address these linguistic and cultural issues urgently.

(With inputs from agencies.)