Lure of working abroad driving Odisha youths into inhuman exploitation traps!

An increasing number of youths from Odisha are falling prey to fraudulent recruitment schemes that promise wealth and opportunity abroad. Drawn by the allure of lucrative employment, many reportedly find themselves trapped in dire circumstances in countries such as Oman.

The reality check

Upon arrival, these individuals frequently encounter exploitative working conditions and, in many cases, abuse. Reports have surfaced of workers not receiving their promised salaries, while others face threats when attempting to address their concerns. Long hours, lacking basic amenities and living under constant duress, are common elements of their experience.

Voices from Odisha

Recently, four young men from the Ganjam district shared their harrowing experiences after returning from Oman. Their testimonies paint a grim picture of inadequate living standards and abusive work conditions. They urge others in similar positions to be cautious, though for many, return is an unattainable dream.

“We worked in Oman for four months. We went there with the help of an agent who promised us good work, quality food, and life. However, we were not provided the work as promised to us. When we complained about it, our owner drove us out of the house,” rued Jugal Pradhan who recently returned home from Oman.

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“We were tortured like anything at our workplace in Oman. We were not provided proper food and driven out from the house. We were forced to live in an open park,” said Basant Kumar Parida, a returnee from Oman.

 A worrying pattern

Ganjam has unfortunately gained notoriety as a hotspot for such cases, with hundreds of youths from the region reportedly deceived each year. In a striking illustration, over 20 young men from the Khallikote area left in October last year; some came back, recounting tales of mistreatment. Alarmingly, in the past three years, more than 10 people from the region have reportedly died under similar circumstances, leaving their families grieving.

“I had gone to Dubai with Rs 80,000. We were tortured a lot at our workplace. Very low quality food was provided to us,” rued Charan Rout.

“We came to know about the death of our son. However, the company authorities told us that he has committed suicide. We suspect that he has been murdered as payment was not given to him for the last five months,” said Goutam Sahu, a resident of Khallikote.

The fight for justice

Despite the presence of labour offices, many of these issues remain unresolved, with victims struggling to gain legal recourse. According to the district labour department, while over 5,680 workers have officially left the state for abroad for employment in the past two years, many more operate under the radar of unregulated agents. Officials have vowed to take action on any complaints received regarding these matters.

“Had the youths informed their Sarpanch or the Panchayat Executive Officer about the establishment in which they were going to work, we would have tracked them easily. As they are not following it, we are finding it difficult to track them,” said Somnath Patra, Assistant Labour Officer Berhampur.

The urgency of this crisis calls for immediate intervention to protect job-seekers from deceitful agents and to eliminate exploitative practices.