No security web: Migrant labourers shifting to worksites in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
| Photo Credit: Okay.V.S. GIRI
Migrant labour from Odisha working in completely different industries in Andhra Pradesh have lodged greater than 100 complaints with the Labour Department officers in the previous 5 years alleging harassment and in search of assist to return out of the clutches of managements and return to their native locations.
The migrant workers, mentioned to be in lakhs, are principally engaged in aqua items, brick kilns, sand ramps, resorts, and constructing building in the State. Many arrive with their households and reportedly usually undergo on account of poor services at workplaces in addition to dealing with harassment from managements which don’t adhere to the provisions of numerous legal guidelines such because the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
Some of them are paid meagre wages and aren’t supplied with correct lodging and bogs at work websites. Their youngsters are denied education, and different services at items like brick kilns, sand ramps and building websites, it’s mentioned.
“The workers lodged about 110 complaints against managements and owners alleging harassment,” Labour Liaison Officer of Odisha T. Bhagyasri advised The Hindu(*100*).
“In the last five years, we received complaints of sexual harassment, child rights violation, low wages, detainment, and bonded labour,” Ms. Bhagyasri, who was deployed in A.P. to take care of the welfare of the migrant workers, mentioned.
Joint raids
Krishna district Deputy Commissioner of Labour (DCL) M. Srimannarayana mentioned, “Responding to the complaints, the Labour, Revenue and Police department officials conducted joint raids and visited some brick kilns, spinning mills and other units and observed that there was no proper accommodation, toilets and drinking water facilities.”
“Recently, we rescued 24 workers from Odisha from a spinning mill at Gollapalli village near Gudivara, and sent them back as per their request,” the DCL mentioned.
Just a few Odisha workers allegedly detained in an aqua processing and export unit in West Godavari district had approached then Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, who directed the Collector, SP and the Labour Department officers to inquire into the allegations. They have been launched instantly and despatched again to their native villages.
