Kendrapara, Nov. 19: At least seven skilled labourers from the district are stranded in Oman undergoing harrowing ordeal, their family members have alleged.

The migrant workers are identified as Pradipta Prasad Ghadai, Prakash Kumar Ghadai, Srikar Mallik, Rabindra Ghadai, Nihar Ranjan Swain, Sarada Prasad Khatua and Birandra Ghadai, said district administration officials.

In September, the labourers, who are skilled plumbers, made their way to Oman through a local labour contractor, who had promised them assigned plumbing jobs. But after landing in the Middle East country, they were forced to work as labourers in a bread-manufacturing factory. As against hefty wage package assured to them during placement, they remained grossly underpaid. Besides, show of protest was silenced with use of force.

"The workers had raised their voice against the lower wages - which cost them dear. Forced to toil it out for over 12 hours a day, they are packed like sardines in a dimly-lit house in an inhospitable condition. All of them were beaten up by employer's henchmen for rising up against the management," said Pradipta's uncle Rajendra Ghadai.

"The workers had revolted and threatened to leave the company. This provoked the management which started inflicting torture on them. They are being forced to eat sub-standard food. The accommodation provided to them was also not fit for human habitation," said Rajendra, quoting the stranded workers' telephonic talks.

Raja Ahmed, the labour contractor from Salipur in Cuttack district, had hired the skilled labourers from Kendrapara for placement in a plumbing farm in Oman. They had been promised Rs 50,000 a month with five off-days. Besides, they had been told free food once a day and free accommodation. However, their salary had been slashed by one-third of the assured sum.

"My nephew Pradipta had called me over three days ago and narrated his tale of plight in Oman," he said.

"I have requested the Indian Embassy in Oman to initiate steps for the safe and early return of the migrant workers. Their family members have informed that all of them are leading a miserable life in that country. The Indian ambassador in Oman is taking up the matter to set the labourers free," said Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda.

Plumbing is a significant economic activity that has been providing income sources to thousands of families in this district. This trend has been in vogue for generations together. Besides the major urban centres, the plumbers, especially from Pattamundai, Aul and Rajnagar, have spread their network in various places across the country. Many have made their way to gulf and the Middle East countries, said district labour officer Satya Narayan Acharya.

He said: "These migrant overseas workers do not come under the Inter-state Migrant Workmen Act, 1979. We have no administrative control over such things. However, criminal case under the IPC sections is being lodged against the contractor as the workers were cheated by him."

"The district administration is yet to carry out a comprehensive of number of migrated plumbers, who have migrated to other parts in search of livelihood<>. But, our conservative estimates put the migrant plumbers' figure at 18,000 to 20,000," the official said.