A growing crisis has emerged in Uzbekistan where over 1,500 Indian workers — including more than 600 from Odisha — have been left stranded due to alleged non-payment of salaries and contract violations by their employer, Enter Engineering Pte Limited. Many of the affected Odias hail from Ganjam district, particularly Sanakhemundi and Digapahandi, and have been employed as engineers and labourers.
According to sources, the stranded workers have been protesting outside the company’s office for the past five days, demanding payment of dues and fulfilment of contractual commitments. They allege that the company has withheld salaries for four months, failed to provide promised benefits, and neglected basic living conditions at their camps.
The workers say they are now unable to return home as they have no funds even to buy food. In video messages shared widely on social media, stranded engineer Chandan Kumar Roul expressed serious concerns:
“We have been working at Enter Engineering for nearly two years. We have not been paid our salaries for the last four months. The company has asked us to return to our country, but we don’t even have money for food. We appeal to the Government of India to help us return home safely.”
Families in Odisha are deeply worried, while authorities and community representatives are monitoring the situation and exploring options for resolution. As of now, the employer has not issued any official statement regarding the ongoing protests or allegations.
The stranded workers continue to request immediate intervention from the Odisha government and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safety, repatriation, and settlement of unpaid dues.
