Migrant labourers in Kerala tap new income as flex board, banner works rise in local body poll season

Ernakulam, Kerala: A surge of election-related activity in Aluva and the Perumbavoor region of Ernakulam is offering much-needed work to migrant labourers from West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha. With regular jobs slowing down, the local body election campaign season has become an unexpected lifeline for many daily wage workers.

Why this election season matters

Construction work has dipped and agricultural activity has not fully restarted, leaving many workers without income for days. Several migrant labourers say election campaign tasks for the upcoming local body polls have brought them fresh hopes during a dry work period.

How Kerala’s campaigns create more work

Workers note that in their home states, local body elections often pass quietly, without the scale of public campaigning seen in Kerala. Here, streets, junctions, and even small village corners are quickly covered with banners, posters, and decorations — a level of energy they say is uncommon elsewhere.

This high-voltage atmosphere has triggered a rise in short-term opportunities for those who have been struggling to earn.

Long hours, but reliable wages

Most migrants originally came to Kerala for construction and farm jobs, but with both sectors offering fewer opportunities, campaign-related work has become their temporary anchor. Many are now engaged in making flex boards, putting up banners, and assisting with various promotional setups.

Several printing and flex units in the region are operating almost round the clock to meet demand.

The final push before voting

With only a few days left until polling, the workload continues to climb. Workers say they must finish their tasks before the campaign window closes. The deadlines are tight and the hours long, but the steady wages are a welcome relief during an otherwise difficult season for daily earners.