400 stranded workers return to India
MUSCAT: Around 400 stranded workers, who claimed they were not paid salaries for months, have arrived home in India.
Workers, who said they had been struggling for food and accommodation for weeks, are now united with their families with help from the Ministry of Manpower and the Indian Embassy in Muscat.
Indra Mani Pandey, India’s ambassador to Oman, hailed the efforts of the Ministry of Manpower in helping repatriate the workers.
“Oman’s Ministry of Manpower and the Indian Embassy in Oman have been working together as a team to help these Indian workers, who unfortunately have not been paid salaries for about four months. We will continue to assist them and help them find jobs in Oman.”
Meanwhile, the Indian government has placed the company under the “Prior Approval Category.”
“Whenever Indian emigrants face any problem from their foreign employer, they contact the Indian Mission to complain against foreign employers and seek redressal of their grievances.”
“Such complaints basically relate to the non-payment/reduced payment of salaries, non-availability of promised jobs, adverse working conditions or exploitation etc. Immediately on receipt of a complaint, the Mission takes up the matter with the foreign employer, Indian immigrants, as well as the local authorities to settle the matter amicably.”
Recruiting agents
In deserving situations, they try to get the workers repatriated by coordinating with the concerned recruiting agents and the Protector General of Emigrants.
Indian Missions and posts abroad have standing instructions to immediately take up such cases with the relevant local authorities/ foreign sponsors with a view to expediting the process of law and obtaining due justice.