Members of the Kovai Mavatta Pothu Oppantha Matrum Pulam Peyarntha Thozhilalar Sangam have urged the administration to maintain a registry for immigrant workers and initiate steps to stop exploitation of immigrant workers.In a petition to District Collector T.N. Hariharan, the members said that there were approximately two lakh immigrant workers in the district working in different sectors.

“Some agents and middle men are exploiting immigrant workers who come to Coimbatore in search of job,” S. Krishnamoorthi, Secretary of the Union said.

“The middle men promise them of better salary. They do this when the workers in the railway station itself. Later they sell them (workers) to business owners who are in need of labourers,” he added.

The petition follows the recent rescue of three immigrant labourers – Vinoth Kumar, Dhaneshwar and Mahindra Kuri (all from Chhattisgarh) – by the union from a borewell business owner in Ulandurpettai on September 20.
The Union requested the administration to order an inspection by Inspector of Factories in companies where immigrant workers are employed and also to ensure steps similar to Kerala Government like registering such immigrant workers as soon as they land at the railway station and also ensuring Rs. 600 salary a day and other basic amenities.