LONG-TERM MIGRANTS Under a strategy of long-term migration by men. short visits to the family left behind in the village replace the extended stays that characterised circu ar migration. As a result, what had been an eco- nomic cost for employers, in the form of a labour force characterised by high turnover and absentee- ism, became an increased social cost for workers. This includes a greater strain on their relationship with their wife, children, extended family and village community. The frequency of home visits varies with employment conditions and distance. Fast, cheap transport may allow monthly or even weekly commuting, but in a large country, such as India, many long-distance migrants can visit their families only during their annual leave. One means of offsetting such lengthy separations is to reverse the pattern, with the wife visiting the spouse in town, sometimes for an extended period. Children may also stay with the father in order to take advantage of better educational facilities in the city.