Around 130 female and male safei workers, both permanent and contractual, were forced to do sanitation work on the International Labour Day.
The supervisor in the attendance section said the municipal workers are not eligible to get leave on the day.
On behalf of of the labourers , when Bhuban Gochhayat and Babuli Naik approached the authority for leave as a paid holiday, the supervisor of Talcher Municipality did not approve of it and told them straightaway that the leave is only applicable for miners and factory labourers, but not for them.
After getting information from some labourers, this correspondent asked Assistant District Labour Officer, Talcher,RashmitaNaik regarding the issue. She confirmed that any labourers, including municipal workers, should not be forced to work on the Labour Day. She added that if they have been forced to render service on the day, they would be entitled to double wages.
"I will take necessary action after getting a written complaint from the aggrieved labourers," she assured.
In the meantime, the labourers have given a written complaint to the DLO and a copy of that letter to the Executive Officer, Talcher Municipality seeking justice.