Guwahati, March 14: An ongoing LPG shortage in Kerala has begun disrupting the hospitality sector, forcing several restaurants and hotels to shut operations and prompting migrant workers, including many from Assam, to return to their home states ahead of upcoming elections.
According to Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association secretary G Jayapal, the LPG supply crisis has severely affected establishments that rely heavily on migrant labour from West Bengal and Assam.
Jayapal said restaurant and hotel owners are attempting to retain their migrant workforce, fearing that if workers leave now they may not return until after the elections. He added that workers from Assam and West Bengal are expected to start travelling back home about a week before polling in their respective states.
The shortage of cooking gas has already forced several establishments to temporarily shut down, prompting many workers to head back to their native places. Industry representatives noted that the movement of workers is likely to increase as election dates approach.
Experts say the hospitality industry in Kerala depends significantly on migrant labour. Binoy Peter of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development said nearly half of the migrant workforce in the state comes from Assam and West Bengal.
Peter noted that with hotels closing due to the LPG shortage, many migrant workers in the hospitality sector have begun returning home. He added that the upcoming elections in Assam and West Bengal have also contributed to the movement, with reserved train tickets to these states already witnessing high demand.
Industry representatives warned that if the trend continues, the hospitality sector may face a serious labour shortage. Shibin, who manages workers for several malls and hotels, said the return of migrant workers has already begun to affect operations.
He said the LPG crisis is one factor behind the movement, but the upcoming elections in Assam and West Bengal remain the primary reason for many workers leaving.
Hotel operators are now trying to manage the situation by temporarily recruiting local women and urging migrant workers to return after the elections. Industry bodies have cautioned that the combined impact of the LPG shortage and the departure of migrant workers could further strain Kerala’s hospitality sector in the coming weeks.
