Berhampur: After one and half month, again the Odia labourers working in a Sudan power plant in Africa have complained against the power plant of giving torture to them in the foreign land. 25 workers are reportedly arrested by the Sudan police after the agitation by the Odia labourers against the plant due to cheating in wage and minimum facility committed by the Indian farm and Sudan power plant.
The workers complained that the management of the power plant located at Costi in Sudan has reneged on the promises given to them by Bhawani Construction of Kerala which acts as the company’s employment agent in India. The conditions to provide them free treatment, insurance, 8-hour working day, one holiday per week, monthly salary of Rs 15,000 with boarding and lodging facility were simply dreams for them since they joined the plant six months back in February this year.
They are exploited by the company in working hours, wage and otherwise. Even the company administration has recovered the transportation fees from India to Sudan from their accounts. All this has agitated the workers who are currently on strike but not without threat to their life from the company goons.
“We have taken further steps to bring back the labourers languishing in Sudan. We have already informed the labour commissioner of India. He is looking into the matter”, said District Magistrate of Ganjam Dr Krishan Kumar to The Pioneer on Friday.
“The company didn’t listen to our demand, what they had committed to provide. So our people went on strike. After Media’s interference, the Sudan plant agreed to provide health insurance and medical facility but after one month again they are giving torture. After protest by the workers, they were arrested by Sudan police and the police took them to an unknown place. Those were remained in the plant, they are in distress without food and minimum facility”, said Simanchala Gauda, a worker fled from Sudan.
“We have contacted the Bhabani Erectorates Ltd after the complaint from the kin of workers in distress in Sudan. The Agent informed that they had taken 67 workers from Ganjam district. Those are working in Sudan through Bhabani Erectorates Ltd; we have all that data with us. From August 11 they have started agitation against the company. We informed the Labour Commissioner to take further steps to bring back the workers”, said Labour Officer of Ganjam Dipti Ranjan Mohanty.
It may note that, more than 150 Odia labourers are reportedly languishing in Sudan where they were dispatched by a Kerala firm to work in a power plant. The labourers migrated mainly from villages under Patrapur block, Rangeilunda block in Ganjam district. Things came to light when the workers on Thursday morning requested their relatives back home over phone for help to rescue them.
A worker who is working in the power plant in Sudan, informed his family members about the incidents over phone. The family members of the workers from Kesharipada, Khandadeuli, Antarasingi, Gundra, Poleru, Khambarigaon, Buribada, Baranga, Sashan, Turubudi and Jayantipur met the district administration and requested for immediate steps for the safe return of their kin from Sudan.
The families of the distressed workers on Thursday met the Ganjam officials to bring back their relatives from the foreign land. They met Ganjam collector and District Labour Officer and appealed for the rescue of arrested workers by Sudan police.
No comments:
Post a Comment