27 migrant laborers from Jharkhand (Bokaro, Giridih, and Hazaribagh) have appealed to the Indian government on the grounds of extreme suffering following their employer’s abandonment in Cameroon.
New Delhi 17 July 2024
27 migrant workers from Jharkhand who have been stuck in Cameroon since March 31 have made a heartbreaking request for an immediate evacuation to the Indian government, which was captured on camera. The laborers, who were from areas such as Bokaro, Giridih, and Hazaribagh, related their terrifying experience and mentioned living in abject poverty and not getting paid for their labor.
The laborers claim that a private company that brought them to Cameroon has not paid them for the last four months. In the video message, one of the employees bemoaned, “We are running out of food and water, and we don’t even have money to recharge our phones.”
Bebi Devi, Jharkhand’s Minister for the Department of Women, Child Development, and Societal Security, became aware of the predicament these laborers were in and encouraged the External Affairs Ministry to make arrangements for their safe return. She referred to Minister S. Jaishankar in her appeal for prompt action.
The devoted social worker and activist Sikandar Ali, who is well-known for his work on behalf of migrant workers, has added his voice to the clamor of people urging the federal and state governments to launch diplomatic initiatives for the workers’ safe return.
There are other incidents in Jharkhand besides this one. Comparable incidents have already come to light, highlighting the difficulties that migrant workers employed overseas face. The Jharkhand government provided aid to a group that were trapped in Saudi Arabia last year after their employer stopped working and withheld their pay. Thanks to social media appeals, laborers who were stuck in Mali in 2022 were rescued, bringing attention to the ongoing difficulties that these workers endure.
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The predicament faced by these laborers highlights the critical requirement for strong procedures that protect migrant workers’ rights and well-being and guarantee prompt assistance and involvement in times of foreign emergency.
