Shifting Lives Women Migrant Workers in Assam’s Unorganized Service Economy

Shifting Lives: Women Migrant Workers in Assam’s Unorganized Service Economy examines the lived realities of women who migrate from rural areas of Assam to urban centres in search of livelihood in the unorganized service sector. The book analyses the socio-economic conditions that compel women to migrate and the challenges they encounter while working in largely informal and unregulated occupations. It highlights how gendered inequalities shape their experiences in the labour market. Women migrants in the unorganized service sector are often among the most vulnerable workers. They are typically underpaid, overworked, and burdened with both household responsibilities and income- generating work. While some attention has been given to domestic workers in recent years, many other occupations such as childcare workers, beauticians, hairdressers, street vendors, and food sellers remain largely invisible in research and policy discussions. The book examines issues of wage disparity, job insecurity, workplace exploitation, lack of social protection, and limited awareness of labour rights among these workers. Although the Government of India has introduced initiatives such as the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector and the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain due to variations in implementation across states and overlapping administrative mechanisms. Through detailed research, the book explores the socio-economic status of migrant women workers in Assam, their awareness of rights and welfare provisions, and the gender- specific vulnerabilities they face. At the same time, it highlights their resilience, agency, and survival strategies. By documenting these experiences, the book contributes to a better understanding of informal labour and provides insights for policy interventions aimed at improving the working and living conditions of migrant women workers in Assam.

Dr. Juthika Konwar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Business Administration, Assam University, Silchar. She holds a PhD in Management and has over eighteen years of experience in teaching and research. Her areas of interest include human resource development, workplace well-being, training and reskilling, global competency development, and gender issues in organizations. She has published extensively in reputed national and international journals and edited volumes, and is the author and co-editor of books in the areas of integrated marketing communication, heritage tourism, and emerging business practices. Dr. Konwar has served as Project Director and Co-Director for multiple major research projects funded by national agencies including ICSSR, NCW, and MGNCRE, and has also completed consultancy work for public sector organizations. She is a frequent resource person at national and international conferences, workshops, and faculty development programmes. Her work reflects a strong commitment to bridging theory and practice in management education, with a particular focus on workplace happiness, skill development, inclusion, and sustainable organizational performance.

Nilanjana Chakrabarty (b. 1984), has done her MBA, Ph.D (Assam University) with more than 14 years of teaching and research experience. Presently she is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Business Administration, Jawaharlal Nehru School of Management Studies, Assam University, Silchar. She has to her credit Major Research Projects funded by Govt. funding agencies such as Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Mahatma Gandhi National Council for Rural Education (MGNCRE), National Commission for Women (NCW) as well as publications of research papers in the journals of national and international repute. She has also presented various research papers in Regional, National and International seminars/conferences. Her articles include from the subject domain of Marketing Management, Tourism Marketing, and Marketing Communication etc.