60 migrant labourers died outside Odisha since 2018: Minister

Bhubaneswar: At least 60 migrant labourers from Odisha have died while working outside the state since 2018, revealed Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak in the Assembly today.

The Minister made this revelation while replying to a query of BJP MLA Kusum Tete in the House.

According to the Minister, as many as 5,440 migrant labourers from Odisha have been rescued from various states on the basis of 322 complaints since 2018.

In case of death or injuries at workplace, the families of the migrant labourers are eligible for compensation under Odisha Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board and Employees’ Compensation Act, said the Minister.

The state government has provided compensation to the tune of Rs 64,24,807 in this regard, he added.

Earlier, Tete, the BJP MLA from Sundargarh, sought to know detailed data regarding the migrant labourers from Odisha who have either died or sustained injuries while working outside the state since 2018.

Replying to another query of Tete, the Minister informed the Assembly that as many as 1,231 contractors have been issued licences in 2023 to facilitate the migration of altogether 81,232 labourers from the state to outside for jobs.