Workers From Odisha Stuck In Maldives To Return Soon: High Commission

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Indian High Commission in Maldives has assured of safe return of workers from Odisha stranded in the island nation.

The Odia workers, who resigned from the company on December 5 and have valid visas and passports, can travel back to India once their pending dues are paid in two to three days, it said.

The High Commission took up the matter following media reports after the workers posted a video message for help from the government while alleging that they were being harassed at a construction company called Renaatus in Maldives. They mostly hailed from Itipur, Laxmanpur, and Bakutagaon villages in Ganjam district, and Banapur area in Khurda district.

Relatives of the workers also told the media that they were being subject to appalling conditions while being denied their salaries and basic decency.

According to reports, 35 workers from Odisha and four from Tamil Nadu, working at their Gan project site, have been protesting for release of their pending salaries. There are a total 196 Indian workers at this site.

The High Commission has requested the project manager for expeditious settlement of all the dues of those workers.\