Wage Theft News 03.11.2020
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Mr. Rasam Sridhar (+91 90102 00538), Staff Reporter, 'Sakshi' Telugu Daily, Nirmal
District in Telangana wrote a news story on WAGE THEFT. The news titled 'Gulf
Gaayam' (Gulf Wound) was published on 03.11.2020.
Thousands of workers from Northern Telangana (Erstwhile Districts of Nizamabad,
Adilabad and Karimnagar) migrated to Gulf counties in search of livelihood. Family
members of the migrants were disappointed as the dreams were shattered. Workers
were forced to go on unpaid leave. Some of these debts are not cleared. Indian Govt
should intervene and negotiate with the Gulf Govts to settle the end of service benefits
and pending wages. Some NGOs, Solidarity Center, Lawyers Beyond Borders and
Migrant Forum in Asia are supporting the migrants to claim their rights.
"About 15 Lakhs (1.5 Million) workers from Telangana State migrated to Gulf countries.
Many of them were affected by the wage cut. Most of the companies did not even
provide air tickets to go back to their home countries. Some migrants in the Gulf
purchased air tickets with the help of their family members in India." Said, Mr. P.
Swadesh, President, Pravasi Mithra Labour Union
"Most of the workers don't know about the Gulf laws and solutions. We are creating
awareness among them to get their rights. We are trying to provide legal assistance to
the returnee migrants who lost their wages. We will take Power of Attorney (POA) from
migrants and will file the cases in Labour Courts in Gulf countries." Said Mr. Mandha
Bheem Reddy, President, Emigrants Welfare Forum.
Mr. Davanapelly Gangadhar (45) of Kalleda village, Dasthurabad Mandal, Nirmal
District, Telangana State worked with M/s. Al Tasnim Enterprises LLC, Muscat,
Oman. Emigrant Clearance granted for Oman by Protector of Emigrants (POE), Mumbai
on 05.07.2019. He lost his job due to the Corona pandemic. He came back to India on
18.08.2020. As per records his employer / company name is mentioned as M/s. Al
Tasnim Enterprises LLC. But he said the company's name as Al Turki Enterprises LLC.
The returnee migrant Mr. Davanapelly Gangadhar said that, "I worked for one year in Al
Turki Company in Oman. I got a monthly salary of INR 15,000. It was fine in the
beginning. Later they paid the salary once in two, three months. The food was not
provided properly. They accommodated 30 people in one room."
"One fine morning in the Corona times the company management told us that flights are
operational to your country and you can go and come back after some time. They
provided air ticket. We asked for a settlement of bonus and end of service benefits
(EOSB), but they told us that they will settle later. We are calling the company over
phone regarding settlement of EOSB, but not responding properly," Mr. Davanapelly
Gangadhar added.