Bhubaneswar: As many as 9,90,696 educated youths have registered their names in various employment exchanges in Odisha for jobs between 2020 and 2024.
It was informed by Labour and Employees State Insurance Minister Ganesh R SingKhuntia in the State Assembly, based on the data received from the Department of Skill Development and Technical Education.
Responding to a question by Congress MLA from Lakshmipur Pabitra Sounta, the Minister said that recruitments are made by private companies and the government every year. As many as 45,398 youths including 11,261 women have got jobs in different government and private sectors between 2002 and 2024, the Minister said.
According to the data obtained, till 2024, licenses have been issued to 476 contractors to employ 36,344 migrant workers under Inter-State Migrant Workmen (RE&CS) Act, 1979. Migrant workers working abroad (outside India) are covered under the Emigration Act, 1983 of the Government of India, the minister said.
As on June 30, 2024, as many as 42,51,505 construction workers have been registered under Odisha Construction Workers Welfare Board and 3,75,950 unorganized workers under Odisha Unorganized Workers Social Security Board, the minister told the Assembly.
Under the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, various benefits are provided to registered construction workers such as education scholarships, marriage assistance, assistance for pregnant women, death compensation etc.
Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board has the provision to provide death assistance and accident compensation for the welfare of the registered unorganized workers. There is also a provision for providing assistance in case of disability in accident, the minister added.
Responding to a separate query by BJD’s Prasant Behera on migrant workers, Singkhuntia said that State government draws the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs regarding any exploitation of migrant workers abroad and takes steps accordingly for their safe return.
As per the data available, the government has ensured the safe return of 105 labourers from foreign soil in 2023 and 2024, the Minister informed.
