Following the directions of Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, the Labour Department
of the State Government ensured the safe return of the workers who went to work
in Sri Lanka, who were facing financial crisis. 19 workers of Jharkhand stranded in
Sri Lanka have returned home.
This is not the first time that the safe return of stranded workers has been done in
the country and abroad. There are dozens of such instances when the government
has come forward in respect of the workers.
Minister, Labour, Planning, Training and Skill Development Department,
Satyanand Bhokta informed that the total 19 workers from Giridih, Hazaribagh and
Dhanbad districts had requested Sri Lanka for help and return home through social
media. “On April 2, they sent a message to the Government of India and the
Government of Jharkhand on social media. Taking cognizance of which the Chief
Minister had requested External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar and the Indian High
Commission in Sri Lanka for help. Along with this, Soren had also directed the
State Migrant Control Room and Labour Department for appropriate action,” he
added.
“During verification it was revealed that all the laborers were working as fitters in
Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited in Sri Lanka since February 18, 2022.
Workers stranded in Sri Lanka reported that their passports were confiscated by the
contractor. Even after more than three months, they were not paid salaries and they
were stopped even paying for food,” said Bhokta.
The State Government's Labour Department contacted the Indian High
Commission and other officials in Sri Lanka to provide assistance to the workers,
and the State Migrant control room contacted the contractor and the company and
asked them to clear the dues of the workers. The Indian High Commission and
officials in Sri Lanka took cognizance of the incident and the workers were given
food and security through the company.
On May 5, a total of Rs 8, 68,777 was paid in the account of all the workers by
paying the dues to the workers by the contractor and the company. Along with this,
air tickets were also made for everyone to return to the country. After which all the
workers left for India on 6th May 2022 at 3 o'clock in the morning and reached
Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi at 2 pm.
Bhokta said, "Our government is working under the leadership of Chief Minister,
Hemant Soren with sensitivity towards workers and workers."