An ongoing shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Kerala has disrupted operations in hotels and restaurants across the state, forcing several establishments to shut temporarily and triggering the return of migrant workers from eastern India ahead of upcoming elections.
According to the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, the hospitality sector has been severely affected as LPG supplies, essential for cooking operations, remain constrained.
Association secretary G Jayapal said many restaurant and hotel operators were struggling to retain their migrant workforce, particularly workers from Assam and West Bengal, who form a large share of the sector’s labour base.
“Restaurant and hotel operators are trying to retain their staff from other states, fearing that if migrant workers leave now, they may not return until after the elections,” Jayapal said.
He added that workers from Assam and West Bengal are expected to start leaving about a week before polling in their respective states, a pattern commonly seen during election periods when migrant labourers travel back to vote.
The shortage has already forced several establishments to temporarily halt operations, prompting workers employed in the hospitality sector to begin travelling back to their home states.
Migration experts say the movement reflects both the LPG supply disruption and the approaching elections.
Binoy Peter of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development said Kerala’s hospitality sector relies heavily on migrant labour, with a significant share of workers coming from Assam and West Bengal.
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“About 50 per cent of Kerala’s migrant workforce is from Assam and West Bengal. With hotels closed, migrant workers in the hospitality sector have started moving to their native places,” Peter said.
He added that apart from restaurant closures, the movement was also triggered by the upcoming elections in the two states, with demand for reserved train tickets rising sharply.
Industry representatives warned that if the shortage persists, the sector could face a serious labour crunch in the coming weeks.
Hospitality workforce manager Shibin said many migrant workers had already begun returning home.
“The LPG crisis is only one factor for the movement. The major factor is the elections in West Bengal and Assam. We have already started facing the heat as several workers have moved back to their native places,” he said.
Hotel operators are now attempting to cope with the shortage by recruiting local workers, particularly women, on a temporary basis while urging migrant employees to return once the elections conclude.
Industry bodies warn that the combined impact of the LPG supply crunch and the outflow of migrant labour could deepen the crisis for Kerala’s hospitality sector if the situation continues.
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