6 Telanganite workers freed from Saudi firm’s captivity

Hyderabad: Thanks to the intervention of Saudi authorities, six Telangana migrant workers who were held captive by their company at Al-Hassa in Saudi Arabia have returned home to India. Secretary, external affairs, Amar Sinha informed this.

It must be noted that 29 workers were held captive by their company. IT and NRI affairs minister K T Rama Rao had written to Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, on March 20, about their plight, who were employed with a company Al-Hajry. According to him, the company had been demanding 50,000 dollars from each worker to relieve them and send them back to India.

In a hearing held at labour court, the ‘Amir Court’ after listening to the complaints of the migrants directed the company to bear all expenses and send the employees to their native places within three days. But the company paid no heed to the court direction, and held the workers in captivity for 12 days without food, medicines or basic amenities.

Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj responded to KTR’s letter and pursued the issue. After the external affairs ministry brought the matter to the knowledge of Indian Embassy in Riyadh, the embassy immediately sent food supplies and other essential supplies to the workers.

However Secretary, external affairs, Amar Sinha informed that Saudi authorities are sorting out the issue and there was no captivity but it was a contractual dispute between the workers and the company.