By Dr. Ashraf Zainabi
One of my mentors, Emeritus Professor S. A. Abbasi, once said, keen observation is the key to producing authentic results and conclusions. This explains that observation is the most authentic source of understanding any natural, social, psychological or economic dynamics.
It is March 2025. In Kashmir, March witnesses vibrant activities in agriculture, construction and other sectors. A keen observer in Kashmir today would notice an unmistakable trend. I too have this habit of observing around (people, politics, education, and the environment). I observed, while much of the local labor workforce remains indoors during the early months of the year, migrant workers/laborers from other states have already taken over labor-intensive spaces in Kashmir. By mid-February 2025, thousands of migrant workers have arrived, setting to work each morning at 8 AM, while indigenous laborers remain largely absent from these job sectors. This phenomenon raises several questions about the work culture, economic dependencies, sociocultural factors, and policy implications surrounding the labor force in Kashmir.
Why do migrants dominate Kashmir’s labor market? Is it purely about wages, or are there deeper differences in work ethic and economic drive? Are there alternative income sources that make locals less inclined toward hard labor? And most importantly, does the influx of migrant labor impact employment opportunities for Kashmiris? This article delves into these pressing questions, offering a broader perspective on the evolving labor market in Kashmir.
Work Culture and Economic Drive
The most apparent difference between the migrant and local labor workforces is the work ethic. Migrant laborers come to Kashmir with a clear purpose: to earn, save, and return home with financial stability. Their approach to work is marked by discipline, punctuality, and an unrelenting drive.
In contrast, a significant portion of the indigenous labor force seems reluctant to engage in the same kind of physical labor, at least during the winter months. This raises the question: is it an issue of work culture or economic necessity? Many local workers may feel less urgency to work because they have alternative sources of income, such as government jobs to one or more family members, land-based earnings, or remittances from family members working abroad. These economic cushions mean that many locals are not in immediate financial distress, making them less willing to take up physically demanding jobs.
Migrant laborers, on the other hand, do not have these financial safety nets. For them, every working day translates into survival and economic progress, making their commitment to labor-intensive work much stronger.
Better Labor Wages in Kashmir
The daily rate for labour work in Kashmir ranges between INR 600-700, Whereas the same labor work in most of the states outside Kashmir fetches only INR 200-300. In Kashmir, the laborers get daily allowances or complementary benefits such as Chewing Tobacco, Bedi or Cigarette and two time food (vegetarian or non vegetarian based on laborers choice) and tea in addition to the labor rate. Accounting these benefits to the day’s labor rate amounts to around INR1000. These benefits are absent in other states. Besides it, the migrant laborers feel protected and respected in Kashmir. These labor wages and benefits in Kashmir force mass migration of labour workforce from other states to Kashmir.
Climate, Tradition, and Social Perception
Another key factor influencing labor force participation in Kashmir is the region’s unique sociocultural setting. Kashmir experiences harsh winters, and historically, this season has been associated with reduced economic activity. Agriculture—the primary occupation for many rural Kashmiris—remains dormant, and the tradition of winter hibernation remains deeply ingrained in the local psyche. Many Kashmiris consider winter months as a time for rest, reflection, and religious devotion rather than intensive labor.
For migrant laborers most of these aspects are irrelevant, but extreme winters do force them to go back to their native lands, but not for more than two months. I have also observed, a significant number of migrant laborers stay back in Kashmir, no matter how much extreme cold conditions Kashmir presents. It seems, they acclimatized with winters of Kashmir much better than Kashmiris nowadays.
Additionally, there is a noticeable social perception associated with physical labor in Kashmir. While entrepreneurship and business ownership are respected, manual labor—particularly construction, masonry, and daily wage jobs—is often viewed as a profession of last resort. This contrasts sharply with the mindset of migrant workers, for whom such jobs are a primary source of livelihood, hence no shying away aspect is visible in them. If this social perception remains unchanged, indigenous laborers may continue to shy away from certain jobs, leaving the space open for migrant workers to dominate.
Impact of Migrant Labor on Employment Opportunities for Locals
One of the most debated aspects of migrant labor dominance is whether it negatively impacts local employment. On the surface, it may seem that migrants are “taking away” jobs that could otherwise be filled by indigenous workers. However, the reality is more complex.
Migrant labor has been instrumental in filling critical gaps in Kashmir’s workforce. The booming construction industry, for instance, relies almost entirely on migrant workers, as local labor participation remains minimal. Similarly, agricultural activities such as paddy transplantation and apple harvesting see heavy involvement from outside laborers.
However, the presence of migrant labor also creates a paradox. Since they are willing to work for lower wages, but much better than what they get in their native states, employers prefer them over local workers, further discouraging indigenous labor participation. This leads to a cycle where locals step away from labor-intensive jobs, and migrant workers become an irreplaceable part of the economy.
In certain sectors, this trend has resulted in a complete dependence on migrant labor. If for any reason, migrant workers were to stop coming to Kashmir, several industries—construction, brick kilns, horticulture, and road maintenance—would struggle to function efficiently.
Policy Interventions and the Way Forward
Some of the possible policy Interventions can be put in place to strike a balance, and mitigate economic losses to the local economy.
- Training local youth in specialized trades such as masonry, carpentry, and machine operations could make them more competitive in the labor market.
- Contractors and business owners could be encouraged to hire local labor through wage subsidies or tax incentives.
- Changing the perception around manual labor is crucial. If physical work is seen as a respectable and dignified profession, more Kashmiris might be willing to engage in it.
- Government-backed projects offering employment opportunities during the winter months could help keep locals engaged in productive work instead of remaining economically inactive.
Conclusion
Kashmir’s labor market is at an interesting crossroads. Migrant workers have become the backbone of many industries, while indigenous workers remain hesitant to take up labor-intensive roles. The reasons range from work culture differences and economic alternatives to social perceptions and wage disparities.
While migrant labor is essential for Kashmir’s economy, a balanced approach is needed to ensure that local workers are not left behind. Skill development, policy interventions, and social awareness can help create a labor market where both migrant and indigenous workers coexist without one group entirely overshadowing the other.
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
- The author is a Teacher and researcher
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