Kendrapada: Four migrant workers from Odisha, who are allegedly stranded in Thailand, have released a video message appealing to the Odisha government and local MP for immediate rescue.
The migrants, hailing from the Rajnagar and Aul areas of the Kendrapada district, moved to Thailand on tourist visas about a year ago under the pretence of work opportunities at a plywood manufacturing company but have since been trapped in a cycle of exploitation. They alleged that they are being held against their will, denied wages, and subjected to mental and physical harassment by their employer.
The affected workers have been identified as Khirod Das of Gobanga village, Manoj Mallick of Poijharia village, Kailash Sethi of Nahuni village under Rajkanika block, and Nityananda Mallick of Padanipal village under Aul block. Another worker, Raj Kumar Pasi from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur region, is also reportedly facing similar difficulties.
Forced into Hardship and Intimidation
According to the stranded workers, while they initially received their payments on time, the company management has withheld their wages for the last three to four months. When the workers demanded their hard-earned salaries, the company owner and management allegedly resorted to mental and physical harassment. Furthermore, the employers have reportedly confiscated their passports and are threatening to have them arrested by the local police if they continue to ask for their money.
One of the workers, Nityananda Mallick, stated that the employer has withheld their salaries for several months and also refuses to provide medical assistance. “The owner brought us here on a tourist visa. It has been three months, and we haven’t received our wages. The owner, Jai Prakash, is not giving us our money. When I fell ill and asked to go to the hospital, they refused to take me or give me money for treatment. They threaten us with the police whenever we ask for our dues. The food and drinking water are also not proper.”
Another worker, Khirod Das, echoed these sentiments, noting the lack of support: “I have been working for this company for over a year.. I came here on a tourist visa… for three months they haven’t paid me. Whenever I ask for my salary, the contractor threatens to send me to jail. I have neither my passport nor money to return home. I request the government to help us.”
One of the stranded workers, Manoj Mallick, revealed that despite personal tragedies at home, his employer refuses to let him return to India. “It has been seven months since my mother passed away. Every time I ask to go home, they say ‘we will release you today, we will release you tomorrow,’ but they never do. When I insisted on my passport, they threatened me. They are forcing us to stay in the room and not letting us out. We are in a lot of pain and are being tortured. They even forbid us from making videos, threatening to hand us over to the police if we do. I request the government to take us back as soon as possible.”
Visa Violations and Administrative Action
Local authorities revealed that the youths were sent abroad on tourist visas by an illegal placement agent. Because their tourist visa validity has already expired, they face additional legal complications in returning home independently.
The District Labour Officer (DLO) of Kendrapada has initiated an inquiry into the matter and is in contact with the distraught families.
The DLO stated that a report is being prepared to formally apprise the state government. Following this, the Odisha government is expected to write to the Union Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate their safe repatriation.
Families in Distress
Back home, the families of the four youths are in a state of deep shock and anxiety upon hearing about the torture and starvation their sons are undergoing. Local residents and activists have expressed grave concerns, noting that such fraudulent cases, where rural youths from regions like Rajnagar and Aul are lured abroad by unauthorized agents only to face extreme exploitation, are alarmingly on the rise. They have demanded strict criminal action against the errant agents who put the lives of these innocent workers at risk.
