Sugar Industry Employment and Rural Migration: Understanding Workers’ Intentions to Stay in Pakistani Villages

Abstract

Migration remains a critical socio-economic phenomenon in Pakistan, particularly within agro-industrial sectors such as the sugar industry. This study investigates the factors influencing sugar mill workers’ intentions to remain in rural villages, focusing on selected districts in Punjab and Sindh. Using a structured questionnaire administered to 260 respondents, combined with correlation and factor analysis in SPSS, the research examines demographic characteristics, occupational conditions, welfare provisions, and social influences. Results reveal that the workforce is predominantly male-headed, middle-aged, and modestly educated, with extended working hours and limited access to welfare services. The problem-facing index highlights lack of institutional support, inadequate credit facilities, and food insecurity as the most pressing challenges. Factor analysis demonstrates that occupational stability and welfare provisions exert the strongest influence on workers’ retention, while social cohesion and family obligations also play significant roles. These findings align with migration theories such as Todaro’s income-differential model and Massey’s push-pull framework, while also reflecting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The study underscores the need for comprehensive policy interventions that integrate labor welfare, institutional support, and rural infrastructure development to ensure sustainable retention of sugar mill workers in villages. By situating the analysis within both theoretical and policy frameworks, this research contributes to the discourse on rural development, industrial labor, and migration management in Pakistan.

Keywords:     Sugar industry; migration; rural retention; occupational welfare; push-pull factors; Pakistan; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); industrial labor; socio-economic challenges; rural development.