BERHAMPUR: As many as 28 labourers from several villages in Patrapur area of Ganjam district are allegedly going without remuneration in a construction company in Malaysia.

Parents of the Odia labourers have urged district collector to ensure their safe return.

"We will move union home ministry through the state government to make arrangements of their return," said Ganjam district collector, P C Chaudhary.

Since the labourers are working overseas, the bureau of immigration, home ministry, will look into the issue, said district Labour Officer, Kalpana Mishra.

The labourers are allegedly going without remuneration for months. They are also deprived of medical treatment, the parents told the collector. The plight of the labourers came to light when some of them told about their ordeal to their parents over phone some days ago.

"The labourers want to return to their villages, but the owner of the site is not allowing," said P Rameya of Boribadi village.

One B Bharat Reddy of Bhejipadara village died on April 23 in Malaysia, he claimed. Three of them, who returned home, narrated their plight. The parents said a local person took 32 people from different villages, luring them with descent jobs, last year. He collected Rs 70,000 from each worker for transport fees.

"The labourers did not go through proper channel. Despite that, I have asked labour officials to conduct an inquiry," the DLO said.

This came close on the hills of reported torture of 13 workers from Khallikote and Kodala blocks of the district in Malaysia.
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