Kendrapadsa MP Baijayant Panda called on the migrant Odia labourers employed in the brick kilns in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh (AP). last year he had promised to visit the area.
Panda toured the brick kilns in the district and closely interacted with several labourers to understand the issues being faced by them. The MP also met with the association of kiln owners which explained its viewpoint to him.
The visit was followed by an interaction between Panda and the Joint Commissioner of labour, other officials of the district administration and members of the civil society in AP. Panda emphasised on the primacy of the payment of minimum wages. Also, he stressed on the need to maintain proper work records so that the labourers can demand their fair share of payments. The discussion concluded with the labour department accepting the suggestion that henceforth the administration will involve civil society organisations at the time of final settlement of wages to ensure payment of minimum wages to the workers.
The administration also agreed to explore the suggestion of creating a centralised hotline to address complaints from the labourers. Panda promised to work with the Odisha Government to ensure cooperation to Andhra Pradesh for safeguarding the rights of the migrant labourers. Panda again promised to revisit the kiln workers.