Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Odisha unit president Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia has severely criticised the State Government for failing to implement its plan to make Balangir and Nuapada districts migrant worker-free for the last three years.

“The State Government has completely failed in resolving the issue of migration of workers which has already taken acute proportion.

Even as three years have passed since the Government announced to make Balangir and Nuapada districts free of migrant workers, no work has been done yet,” alleged Dr Khuntia at an executive meeting of the youth wing of the INTUC held here.

He said even as Rs 134 crore was given to 20 gram panchayats of the two districts, yet both the State Government and its administration have failed in sorting out the migration problem.

“Even though migrant workers have been included in the construction worker’s scheme, it is disappointing that departmental officers have allowed lakhs of workers of Balangir district to go outside the State for work. It is an anti-labour move not to register workers directly in the workers’ scheme,”

he said.

Dr Khuntia said laxity on part of the Government in regulation of the employment system in private sectors has also helped rise in number of unemployed workers in the State.

He demanded that the Government enact laws to ensure that 80 per cent of jobs in private companies be filled with local youths. Other demands raised at the meeting include abolition of contract system, provision of lowest monthly wage of Rs 21,000, procurement of paddy at right MSP, stopping of exploitation of farmers at paddy procurement centres in the name of FAQ and making payment of minimum wages fixed by the Government mandatory. 

Dr Khunita also slammed the Union Government for planning to convert 44 labour laws into four labour codes.

The meeting was presided over by youth wing president Satyabrata Nayak. Among others, treasurer Krushnchandra Sahoo, general secretary Bimal Pradhan, secretary Sameer Chand, district presidents Jayakrushna Malia, Santosh Bhola, Bikash Das, Babita Badapanda, Sai Laxmi Prasad Palai, Bibhuti Jena, Ashish Behera and Sandip Dehuri were present.