While partnerships between diverse stakeholders could improve the lives of migrant construction workers (MCW) in Bengaluru, literature on partnerships is limited. The purpose of this dissertation is to: i) document the perspectives on the response to issues that MCW face, ii) identify opportunities for improving the response through partnerships. Guided by a theoretical framework I developed, I collected qualitative data using focus groups (n=3) and interviews (n=2) with female MCW/family members in small construction sites, informal settlements, and a company site; interviews with representatives of civil society organizations (CSO) (n=6), the construction sector (n=10) and the government (n=6); and participant observation in Bengaluru for eight months. I analyzed the data using a combination of predetermined and emergent themes and sub-themes. I worked with members of a community advisory board throughout the dissertation.
I found MCW move to Bengaluru for job opportunities and better wages. In Bengaluru, MCW face substandard working and living conditions and limited access to services and resources, which affect women more adversely. While CSO, the construction sector, and the government have taken initiatives to improve MCW’ lives, their reach is limited with differences based on the setting. Partnerships, existing and potential, address access to services, skill development, infrastructure creation, and registration with social protection programs. Partnerships within stakeholders and those involving multiple stakeholders can increase partnership effectiveness. However, partnerships are not suited to address MCW’ rights and the needs of MCW in small construction sites. Participants did not volunteer solutions to issues female MCW/family members face. Funding, trust, wariness about CSO, slow government decision-making process, and fear of bureaucracy affect the formation and functioning of existing and potential partnerships.
There is an opportunity to improve the existing response to issues MCW face through partnerships but with limitations. To overcome these limitations, empowering MCW is crucial. This study’s significance stems from completing stakeholder scoping and identifying issues that partnerships can address, which is the first step in establishing partnerships. Future research needs to explore further the factors that impact the functioning of partnerships and ways of mitigating them along with identifying mechanisms for upholding MCW’ rights
