10 workers stranded in Malaysia return to Jharkhand

Remaining 20 to return soon with three month’s salary

Ranchi, April 28: On the initiative of chief minister Hemant Soren, 10 out of 30 workers of Jharkhand stranded in Malaysia returned home safely.

The 30 workers from Giridih, Hazaribagh and Bokaro who had gone to work in Malaysia were trapped there. The State Migrant Control Room and High Commission of India, Malaysia in the coordination with the management of the company where the workers were working will facilitate for the return of the remaining 20 workers.

Recently, these workers had appealed to the state government for their safe return through social media. After this, the Chief Minister ordered the State Migrant Control Room to ensure the safe return of all the workers.

On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the State Migrant Control Room started functioning after taking cognizance of this incident, then it came to know that all the workers are working as lineman in Lead Engineering & Construction BHD since 30 January 2019. Everyone’s contract has expired on 30 September 2021 and from October 2021 to January 2022, they worked for four  months without a contract at the behest of the company, for which they have not received the payment.

The State Migrant Control Room took action and asked the workers to share documents related to the case. The High Commission of India, Malaysia was asked by the Labor Department through mail to take cognizance of the incident. Malaysia Police went to the scene (Lunas, Malaysia) to verify the incident and talked to the company asking the workers to solve the problem. After this, the owner of the company demanded some time for payment of dues of workers and for arranging tickets.

The High Commission of India, Malaysia has ordered the company to pay everyone’s dues soon and transfer them to Kuala Lumpur and arrange their tickets and food within 15 days.

The company has given one month salary total 50000 ringgit (893565 INR) in everyone’s account on 7th April. These workers would have returned to the state on March 14 itself, but all 10 workers were found positive in the Covid test, due to which their visit to India was postponed. All workers have been paid three months salary totaling 29515 ringgit (5,23,507 INR).