ABSTRACT
This study examines the recruitment costs faced by migrant workers from Kerala, India, using data from the Kerala Recruitment Cost Survey 2023. Focusing on SDG Indicator 10.7.1—Recruitment Cost Indicator (RCI), which measures costs as a proportion of first-month earnings—the study analyses financial burdens across different recruitment channels, occupations, and demographic groups. Findings reveal a median recruitment cost of ₹61,156, with travel expenses (₹58,369) and private agency fees (₹66,065) as major components. The median RCI of 2.11 indicates most workers spend over two months’ salary to recover costs, while 25 per cent face severe burdens (RCI > 4.37). High RCIs disproportionately affect less-educated migrants (63.35 per cent with ≤10th standard education) earning lower wages (median salary: ₹27,282). Recruitment through social networks (60.41 per cent) remains dominant, but reliance on private agencies (14.88%) and informal intermediaries (6.02 per cent) exacerbates costs.
