Preparations Underway for the Return of 50 Jharkhand Workers Stranded in Malaysia
Click to start listening
Ranchi, Dec 4 (NationPress) The extended struggle of 50 workers from Jharkhand, who have been stuck in Malaysia for several months, is finally coming to an end, with their scheduled return to India set between December 11 and 18.
The Jharkhand government, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, has finalized the necessary procedures to ensure their safe return.
As reported by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been diligently overseeing the situation. The workers, currently sheltered at the Indian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, hail from the districts of Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Giridih, and Dhanbad.
These individuals had traveled to Malaysia to work with Leadmaster Engineering and Construction Company under a contractual agreement. Initially, they received salaries and benefits according to the contract terms; however, payments were halted for four months, leaving them in a desperate situation.
The workers had issued a video plea calling for intervention from both the central and state governments.
According to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Jharkhand government, the State Migrant Control Room received their complaint on September 24 this year, but election-related activities postponed immediate action. With the elections now complete and a new government established, efforts to repatriate the workers have gained significant traction.
Under their contracts, they were meant to earn 1,700 Malaysian Ringgit as salary but were only compensated with 1,500 Ringgit, which was further reduced. The company also ceased providing basic necessities like food and water, resulting in threats against the workers when they protested. Furthermore, they were denied medical assistance during illnesses.
A complaint filed with the Malaysian police and subsequent collaboration with the Labour Department prompted intervention from the Indian Embassy.
The embassy played a crucial role in negotiating a settlement with the company, ensuring that the workers received their owed wages and that their safety was guaranteed. All 50 workers are now prepared to return to their home villages in Jharkhand after enduring months of hardship.
