Angul: At least 90 labourers from this district who migrated to Gujarat in search of better livelihood opportunities have reportedly been stranded in the union territory of Daman and Diu, with their employer allegedly refusing to pay them their salaries and confining them to their workplace.
The case came to light after a complaint was lodged with the district administration here Friday by family members of the labourers.
Among them are 30 labourers from Kanjara village under Banrapal block and 59 others from Kishorenagar Bamur and Luhamunda region.
According to sources, the labourers were lured by some middlemen with the promise of good wages and left for Daman a year ago.
Initially, the company paid salaries on time. However, the company authorities soon began misbehaving with the workers. They would pay a month’s salary after three months, the complainants alleged, adding that many of them are deprived of their payments even after working for three to four months.
The workers are deprived of food and are tortured when they demand their wages, it was alleged. They are also being forced to work overtime without pay. The company authorities have allegedly hired local goons who threaten the workers when they say they want to quit and return to their homes.
The company authorities are also allegedly threatening the labourers that they would be implicated in false cases and sent to jail if they continue to demand their wages. Some of the labourers managed to make a phone call to their families back home and narrated their ordeal after which the family members got together to lodge a complaint Friday.
Sub-collector Srinibas Behera acknowledged the complaint and assured immediate measures to rescue the labourers. Later, the complaint was forwarded to the district labour officer, it was learnt.
On the orders of Behera, officials made a list of all the stranded labourers and sent it to the district labour officer. Since it as an inter-state issue, the matter will be handled by the district labour commission, Behera said. “We will make every effort to rescue the workers and bring them back home safely,” Behera added. PNN
