A group of Indian migrant workers had been forced to seek shelter at a Petaling Jaya church after a dispute with their employer left them stranded in the country without money or jobs.

Labour rights organisation Tenaganita said the 45 workers had sought the assistance of the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur after they were not given jobs according to prior agreement with their employer, a Port Dickson-based construction company.

"The High Commission asked us to assist them while they tried to find a solution for these workers," said Tenaganita's migrant desk coordinator Aegile Fernandez.

Fernandez said the workers had been brought into the country by a company which subcontracts them out to other companies.

"They were working in a power plant in Setiawan, Perak but since the project ended, they were asked to move around to other companies. They have refused and tried to get help," said Fernandez.