Dr. Aruna Singh: Assistant Professor at Srimati Indira Gandhi College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

1. Article Details

From Challenges to Solutions: Identifying Risk Factors and Impact on the Well-being of Migrant Workers was published by Aruna Singh, Y. Vijila, and Shailendra Singh in The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Volume 67, pages 801–827, in 2024. The article was published on 29 August 2024. The study investigates the factors that influence the well-being of internal migrant workers, with particular attention to poor living conditions, working conditions, compensation, cultural differences, and psychosocial factors. The researchers collected primary data from 411 informal migrant workers in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu. The respondents were employed in construction, street vending, small-scale industries, services, and garment and textile industries. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to identify and validate the major perceived risk factors. The study develops a conceptual understanding of how these risk factors interact and influence the overall well-being of migrant workers.

2. Novelty

The novelty of the article lies in its comprehensive approach to understanding migrant workers’ well-being by integrating economic, occupational, residential, cultural, and psychosocial dimensions into a single framework. Rather than concentrating only on wages or employment, the study recognises that migrant workers experience multiple and interconnected vulnerabilities. Its focus on informal migrant labourers from different unorganised sectors in Tiruchirappalli provides valuable location-specific evidence. The application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis strengthens the identification of the underlying dimensions of migrant-worker risk. The study is also novel in connecting perceived risk factors with overall well-being and moving beyond a simple description of migrant workers’ difficulties toward a framework that can inform practical interventions. This integrated perspective makes the research particularly relevant to the study of informal labour and internal migration in India.

3. Impact

The article has considerable social, economic, policy, and academic impact. It highlights that migrant workers’ well-being is influenced by the combined effects of inadequate housing, poor sanitation, difficult working environments, insufficient compensation, cultural differences, language barriers, stress, and anxiety. The findings can encourage policymakers to develop more comprehensive migrant-worker welfare programmes rather than focusing exclusively on employment generation. Employers can use the findings to improve workplace conditions, compensation, safety, and worker support. Local authorities and civil-society organisations can apply the findings to improve access to housing, sanitation, healthcare, social protection, and community services. Academically, the study contributes empirical evidence to research on internal migration, informal employment, labour vulnerability, and worker well-being. Its broader impact is the recognition that improving migrant workers’ quality of life requires coordinated action across economic, social, occupational, and psychological dimensions.

4. Originality

The originality of the article lies in its integrated approach to migrant workers’ well-being. Instead of examining only wages, employment, or workplace safety, the study combines living conditions, working conditions, compensation, cultural differences, and psychosocial factors within a single framework. The focus on 411 informal migrant workers from different unorganised sectors in Tiruchirappalli also provides region-specific empirical evidence. The use of Confirmatory Factor Analysis further strengthens the originality by systematically identifying the major perceived risk factors. The study therefore offers a broader understanding of migrant-worker vulnerability and demonstrates that different forms of risk are interconnected and collectively influence well-being.

5. Experimental Rigor

The study demonstrates methodological rigor through the systematic collection and analysis of primary data from 411 migrant workers. A structured interview schedule was used to obtain information from workers belonging to construction, street vending, small-scale industries, services, and garment and textile sectors. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was employed to identify and validate the dimensions of perceived risk factors. The research therefore moves beyond general observations and provides empirical support for the proposed conceptual model. However, as the study is based on cross-sectional and self-reported data, the findings primarily establish relationships and perceptions rather than definitive long-term causal effects. Future research using longitudinal data and larger samples from multiple districts could further strengthen the evidence.

6. Sustainability Impact

The study has significant sustainability relevance because migrant workers are an important component of the informal labour force. Improving their living and working conditions contributes to social sustainability by promoting dignity, equality, safety, inclusion, and economic security. Better housing and sanitation can support healthier communities, while fair compensation and improved working conditions can contribute to decent employment. Addressing cultural and language barriers can strengthen social integration and reduce exclusion. The findings are closely connected with Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, and sustainable communities. Thus, protecting migrant workers can contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable labour system.

7. Applicability

The findings have broad practical applicability for policymakers, employers, local governments, NGOs, labour organisations, and civil-society institutions. Government agencies can use the findings to strengthen migrant-worker welfare schemes, social-security coverage, housing programmes, and labour protection. Employers can improve workplace safety, compensation, accommodation, and basic facilities. NGOs and social organisations can provide counselling, legal assistance, language support, and community-integration services. Local authorities can use the evidence to improve sanitation, housing, healthcare, and other essential services in areas with large migrant populations. The framework can also be adapted for studying migrant workers in other districts, states, and informal employment sectors.

Research Portfolio

Dr. Aruna Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Srimati Indira Gandhi College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. She specializes in Human Resource Management, with a strong interest in research, teaching, labour migration, employee engagement, resilience, and sustainable HR practices. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Resource Management from Bharathidasan University, with doctoral research focused on the factors responsible for the resilience of migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. She is proficient in research methodology, data analysis, analytical software, and emerging AI-enabled teaching practices.

Online Profile

ORCID Profile

Dr. Aruna Singh is an academic and researcher with teaching, research, peer-review, and project experience in the field of Management and Human Resource Management. Her academic profile includes research publications in journals such as Migration Letters, The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, and SEDME – Small Enterprises Development, Management & Extension Journal. She has also contributed as a peer reviewer for reputed journals and participated as a panel member in discussions on labour migration. Her professional interests combine HRM, research analytics, migrant worker well-being, resilience, and sustainable development.

Education

Dr. Aruna Singh holds a Ph.D. in Human Resource Management from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, completed in 2025, with doctoral research on factors responsible for the resilience of migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. She completed her M.Phil. in Human Resource Management from St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, in 2017 with 74%, researching job satisfaction among contract labourers. She earned an MBA in Marketing and Human Resource Management from IIMT, Meerut, in 2009 with 65%, and a B.Sc. in Botany and Zoology from K.N.I.P.S.S., Sultanpur, in 2004 with 62%.

Research Focus

Her research focuses primarily on Human Resource Management, labour migration, migrant worker resilience, employee engagement, job satisfaction, protective and risk factors affecting workers, and employee well-being. Her broader interests include sustainable HRM, green HRM, green marketing, SDGs, labour issues, research methodology, data analytics, and the application of AI and technology in education. Her doctoral and subsequent research work particularly examines the challenges experienced by migrant workers and the factors that contribute to their resilience and well-being.

Experience

Dr. Aruna Singh currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Srimati Indira Gandhi College, Tiruchirappalli. She previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, and as a substitute teacher in the Department of Human Resource Management at St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, she also worked as a Research Assistant on an ICSSR-sponsored project titled Durable Solution for Refugees: A Post-Conflict Perspective. Her academic experience combines teaching, research, project work, manuscript reviewing, conference participation, and academic mentoring.

Research Timeline & Activities

Her research journey began with her M.Phil. research on job satisfaction among contract labourers in 2017, followed by research assistance on an ICSSR-sponsored refugee studies project in 2018. From 2019 onward, she expanded her methodological expertise through training in NVivo, structural equation modelling, R, data analytics, research quality, meta-analysis, econometrics, qualitative research, and scale development. Her doctoral research on migrant worker resilience culminated in 2025, alongside publications, conference presentations, and participation in national and international academic events. She has also served as a reviewer for journals including Journal of Management and Labour Studies, FIIB Business Review, VILAKSHAN – XIMB Journal of Management, and Indian Journal of Community Medicine, and has presented research on migrant workers, labour issues, employee engagement, HRM, and sustainable development.

Awards & Honors

Dr. Aruna Singh’s professional recognition includes serving as a paper reviewer for several academic journals and as a panel member for the webinar on Current Issues Related to Labour Migration, where she contributed as a subject-matter expert on migrant worker challenges in India. She has also earned professional certifications, including Preparing to Manage Human Resources from Coursera/University of Minnesota and SOAR – AI for Educators (NSQF Level 6) through Microsoft/NCVET. Her continued participation in advanced training in research methodology, analytics, structural equation modelling, qualitative research, and AI-enabled education reflects her commitment to continuous academic and professional development.

Strengths for the Best Innovator Award

1. Innovative Research Contribution

Dr. Aruna Singh demonstrates strong innovative research capability through her sustained focus on migrant worker well-being, resilience, labour migration, and human resource management. Her research moves beyond conventional employment-related indicators by examining the interconnected effects of living conditions, working conditions, compensation, cultural differences, and psychosocial factors. Her study involving 411 informal migrant workers in Tiruchirappalli applies Confirmatory Factor Analysis to develop an evidence-based understanding of migrant-worker risks. This reflects an innovative approach to identifying complex labour problems and translating them into a structured framework for intervention.

2. Research-to-Solution Orientation

A major strength of Dr. Aruna Singh is her ability to connect research findings with practical solutions. Her work does not merely document the difficulties faced by migrant workers; it identifies risk factors that can be addressed by policymakers, employers, local authorities, and civil-society organisations. Her research perspective is therefore solution-oriented, with potential applications in worker welfare, social protection, occupational conditions, housing, social inclusion, and psychosocial support. This ability to convert social problems into research-based intervention areas is a strong indicator of innovation.

3. Interdisciplinary and Emerging Research Approach

Her research profile demonstrates an interdisciplinary combination of Human Resource Management, labour migration, resilience, employee well-being, sustainability, research analytics, and technology-enabled education. She has developed expertise in research methodologies and analytical approaches including NVivo, structural equation modelling, R, data analytics, qualitative research, meta-analysis, and scale development. Her interest in AI-enabled teaching and emerging educational technologies further demonstrates her willingness to adopt new approaches. This combination of management knowledge, social research, quantitative analysis, and emerging technology strengthens her profile as an innovator.

4. Social Innovation and Sustainability

Dr. Aruna Singh’s research has strong potential for social innovation because it focuses on vulnerable and informal migrant workers whose needs are frequently overlooked in formal labour systems. Her work promotes dignity, inclusion, resilience, decent work, and improved quality of life. The research is also aligned with sustainability principles, particularly those associated with good health and well-being, decent work, reduced inequalities, and sustainable communities. Her academic work therefore extends beyond disciplinary contribution and addresses a broader societal challenge. The emphasis on sustainable HR practices and migrant-worker resilience demonstrates her commitment to developing approaches that can create lasting social and organisational benefits.

5. Potential for Future Innovation and Wider Impact

Dr. Aruna Singh has demonstrated a strong foundation for future innovation through her doctoral research on factors responsible for the resilience of migrant workers in Tamil Nadu, her publications, research projects, academic reviewing, conference participation, and continuous methodological training. Her progression from studying job satisfaction among contract labourers to examining migrant-worker risks and resilience shows a clear and evolving research trajectory. Her combination of subject expertise, analytical skills, sustainability orientation, and interest in AI and technology provides substantial potential for developing new assessment tools, intervention frameworks, policy models, and data-driven approaches to migrant-worker welfare.

Aruna Singh, Business Administration, Best Innovator Award