MLAs concerned over engagement of outside workforce

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, July 3: Members cutting across party lines Tuesday expressed concern over engagement of workforce from outside the state in industries set up in Odisha.

            The members expressed their displeasure during the question hour in the Assembly and demanded employment of more local people in the industries. They alleged that the industrial units in Odisha are recruiting more outsiders and ignoring local people.

State’s Labour Minister Sushant Singh, however, rejected the allegation and claimed that 85 per cent of the employees of the industries operating in Odisha are from the state.

“As many as 2,66,854 persons have been employed in 550 industries in Odisha. Eighty-five per cent of them are local people while 853 hail from outside the state,” Singh said.

BJP member Mohan Majhi, BJD members Atanu S Nayak, P K Deb and Congress lawmaker Suresh Routray asked the minister to direct industries for 90 per cent reservation for local youths under unskilled workers category, 60 per cent semi-skilled workers and 30 managerial staff.

BJD members also wanted to know how many Odia people are engaged in central public sectors like Paradip port, IOCL, IFCO and PPL.

Taking concerns of the MLAs into account, the Minister said that a probe would be initiated and action will be taken against the errant companies if they ignored local people in employment.

“The government will not hesitate to take action against companies not abiding by the norms of the state government on employment of local people in their projects,”

Singh said.