Embassy asked workers to move labour court

Mr Uppalapati Ramesh from Jagtial district has been working with Petron Gulf LLC for eight years and was paid well till the last couple of years when salaries started getting delayed.

He is currently in Hyderabad on vacation and is wondering if he should return as scheduled for next month.

Mr Ramesh, who was a farmer before joining the Oman company, said, “My gratuity amount, service and leave benefits are also pending. I came on vacation in June without a penny in my hand. I am not confident of going back. I do not want to suffer there. I heard the embassy is taking some measures but I have not yet decided on going back.”

On an average the company has to pay around `5 lakh to each worker in the form of gratuity, leave and service benefits. The TS wing of the Indian Social Club is assisting them with food and other amenities.

Mr Balapalli Lingareddy, also from Jagtial district who is in Oman now, said over phone that the Indian embassy had asked the workers to approach the labour court and has promised to arrange a return ticket with a no-objection certificate with five Omani Riyals for expenses.

“The condition is very bad here. We had to depend on only rice for days till the embassy intervened,” he said.

We are now living in the fear of being thrown out of our houses as we have not paid rent,” he added.