48 Indian Workers Stranded in Tunisia Without Pay: Urgent Appeal for Government Intervention

Forty-eight migrant laborers from Jharkhand, currently stranded in Tunisia, have made an urgent appeal to the Indian government requesting assistance for their repatriation.

In a video message, these workers revealed that they suspected irregularities from the very beginning of their employment process. One worker explained, "The company promised to provide agreement papers upon reaching the workplace. However, after arrival, we discovered it was contract-based work with no formal documentation."

The workers have accused Gurugram-based Prem Power Construction Private Limited of deceptive practices. They claim they were initially informed about an eight-hour workday but are being forced to work approximately 12 hours daily. "When we request our wages, they threaten us with imprisonment and warn that we won't be able to return to India," stated one worker in the video, surrounded by others from Giridih, Hazaribagh, and Bokaro districts.

The situation has become dire as the workers report not receiving payment for four months, leaving them without funds to purchase food.

Social activist Sikandar Ali has urged both state and central authorities to take decisive diplomatic action to ensure these workers' safe return.

Bagodar MLA Nagendra Mahato has committed to addressing this issue with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar through a formal letter. He will demand the safe release of the stranded workers, payment of their outstanding wages, and provision of security measures for them.

The 19 workers from Hazaribagh district include Amardeep Chaudhary, Jivadhan Mahato, Dhaneshwar Mahato, Jageshwar Kumar Mahato, Govind Kumar Mahato, Khirodhar Mahato, Nagendra Kumar Mahato, Kailash Mahato, Neelkanth Mahato, Anantlal Mahato, Khushlal Mahato, Jagatpal Mahato, Mukesh Kumar, Mantu Mahato, Gangadhar Mahato, Mukesh Kumar, Dinesh Turi, Devendra Thakur, and Shankar Ghanshy.

From Giridih, there are 14 workers: Nandlal Mahato, Santosh Mahato, Gurucharan Mahato, Manoj Kumar Mandal, Khublal Mahato, Ashok Kumar, Jhandu Mahato, Sewa Mahato, Murali Mandal, Sukhdev Singh, Sanjay Kumar from Dumri, Sanjay Kumar Mahato, Sunil Tudu, and Mirulal Hasda.

The workers from Bokaro district include Ajay Kumar, Anil Kumar, Gopal Mahato, Rajesh Karmali, Lalu Karmali, Jagannath Mahato, Rooplal Mahato, Deepak Singh, Karu Singh, Jagannath Mahato, Birsahi Turi, Subodh Marandi, Manoj Kumar Ravidas, Khedan Singh, and Sukhdev Mahato.