At least 25 workers from the Banpur, Tangi and Balugaon areas of Khurda district are in distress in Malaysia after being sent by local employment agencies for “lucrative jobs” in a Malaysia-based company. The family members of the labourers alleged that their near and dear ones are facing exploitation by the foreign company and the situation is getting worse day by day.
“The agents lured our children by giving false promises of high salaries. Initially, we didn’t know about this as we were unaware about the company. But everything came to light after they (labourers) informed us about their plights,” said laxmidhar Paikray, a family member.
Some of the labourers have also reportedly fallen sick due to lack of food.
Finding no way out, the worried families have taken the matter to the notice of labour officials.
Assistant labour Officer, Balugaon, Harapriya Nayak said, “After being intimated about the matter, I have asked the Chennai employment agency for immediate extradition of the labourers and also issued notices to all the three local agents who had sent them to Malaysia.”