CM Hemant Soren has taken swift cognizance of the matter, issuing a direct order for immediate and effective action.
A distressing situation has emerged from North Africa where at least 48 migrant labourers from the Indian state of Jharkhand are reportedly stranded in Tunisia, facing severe hardship after allegedly being denied wages for up to four months. The workers, primarily from the Hazaribagh, Giridih, and Bokaro districts, released a desperate video appeal for help, drawing immediate attention and action from the state government.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has taken swift cognizance of the matter, issuing a direct order for immediate and effective action. The CM has instructed the Labour Department to coordinate with central authorities and the Indian Embassy in Tunisia to ensure the speedy and safe return of all the stranded workers.
Workers’ Heartbreaking Ordeal in Tunisia
The gravity of the situation was brought to light through a distressing video message circulated on social media, in which the labourers narrate their ordeal. “We are in a very bad situation here. The company has stopped our salaries, and we don’t even have money to eat. We just want to return home somehow,” one of the workers is heard saying.
The labourers claim they have not received their salaries for the past four months, leaving them in a dire state with no money for food or basic sustenance. Their plight is compounded by allegations of forced overtime, with workers reportedly being made to work 12 hours a day instead of the promised eight.
Furthermore, the workers alleged that their employer, identified as Prem Power Construction Private Limited (PPCL), has subjected them to intimidation tactics. When they asked for their outstanding wages, they were allegedly threatened with imprisonment and warned that they would never be allowed to return to India.
Broken Promises and Deceptive Contracts
A key element of the workers’ complaint is the deceptive nature of their employment contract. One of the stranded workers explained that they were lured to Tunisia with the promise of a company job. “We were brought here from India on the promise that it was a company, but after arriving here, we found out they are contractors, Prem Power Construction Private Limited (PPCL), which has a contract with LMP,” the worker stated.
Crucially, the labourers were told they would receive their agreement papers upon arrival in Tunisia, a promise that was allegedly never fulfilled. They were reportedly hired for a project involving the laying of high transmission wires. The absence of proper documentation and the contractual nature of the work have left them vulnerable to exploitation and without legal recourse on foreign soil.
Government Takes Prompt Action
Following the video plea and the surfacing of the reports, Chief Minister Hemant Soren acted swiftly. He issued a directive to the Labour Department, emphasizing the need for “appropriate action” and urging the state machinery to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Tunisia to facilitate the workers’ safe return.
Sanjay Prasad Yadav, Jharkhand’s Minister for Labour, Employment, and Skill Development, confirmed the government’s commitment. “Following the cognizance taken by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, necessary directives have been issued to senior officials of the department to ensure the swift and safe return of all 48 migrant workers from Jharkhand stranded in Tunisia, Africa,” Minister Yadav stated.
Sources within the Jharkhand Labour Department’s Migrant Control Cell have confirmed that contact has been established with the stranded workers, and the department is actively working with the Indian Embassy to verify their documents and arrange for their immediate repatriation. This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of migrant worker exploitation and the need for stronger pre-departure checks and post-arrival protection mechanisms. Social activists have also weighed in, urging the Central and State governments to take diplomatic steps not only for repatriation but also for the clearance of the workers’ pending wages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Which districts in Jharkhand do the stranded workers belong to?
The 48 stranded migrant workers hail from three districts in Jharkhand: Hazaribagh (19 workers), Giridih (14 workers), and Bokaro (15 workers).
Q2: What are the main allegations made by the workers against their employer?
The workers have made three primary allegations:
Non-payment of Salary: They claim their wages have been withheld for up to four months.
Forced Overtime: They are being forced to work for 12 hours a day instead of the agreed-upon 8 hours.
Threats and Deception: They allege they were deceived about their employment status (promised a company job, but given a contract role) and were threatened with jail when they demanded their salary.
Q3: What action has the Jharkhand government taken?
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered the state’s Labour Department to take immediate action. The department is coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Tunisia and verifying the workers’ documents to ensure their swift and safe repatriation and to work towards securing their pending wages