Forty-eight migrant workers from Jharkhand, India, who had been stranded in Tunisia for three months amid allegations of unpaid wages and exploitative conditions, are finally set to return home on November 5, thanks to swift intervention by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The engineering giant, which had outsourced electrical transmission line work to subcontractor Prem Power Constructions Limited, stepped in after a viral distress video surfaced on October 30.
In the footage, the labourers from the Giridih, Bokaro, and Hazaribagh districts accused the subcontractor of withholding four months' salaries, forcing 12-hour shifts despite eight-hour promises, and leaving them starving without funds for food. L&T confirmed that all pending dues have been cleared, and return tickets from Tunis to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have been booked, with onwards travel to Jharkhand arranged.
The workers, hailing from rural blocks like Vishnugarh in Hazaribagh (nine affected), Bagodar and Pirtand in Giridih (14), and Chandrapura in Bokaro (15), expressed profound gratitude in a follow-up video released Sunday. One migrant clarified, "On October 30, we sent a video accusing Prem Power and L&T, but the latter had nothing to do with our payments. Despite that, L&T officials intervened on October 31, forcing the subcontractor to settle dues and book tickets without conditions."
They emphasised the message was voluntary, "without any pressure from anybody," and apologised for inadvertently implicating L&T. This resolution averts a humanitarian crisis, as the men—recruited under false pretences of direct employment—faced mental stress and isolation in a foreign land.
Jharkhand's Labour Department, alerted via social activist Sikandar Ali, coordinated with the Indian Embassy in Tunis, verifying documents and ensuring compliance. Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed district officials in Bokaro, Hazaribagh, and Giridih to facilitate repatriation, highlighting the state's Migrant Control Cell's role. The episode underscores recurring vulnerabilities for India's 10 million annual Gulf and African migrants, many from eastern states like Jharkhand, where unemployment exceeds 13% per NSSO data, driving perilous overseas quests for livelihoods.
Also Read: #BiharPolls: PM Modi Targets Congress, RJD; Says Only NDA can End Bihar’s “Jungle Raj”
The workers' plight gained traction after media coverage by outlets on October 31, prompting L&T's accountability as the principal contractor. Prem Power, a Delhi-based firm, faces potential scrutiny under the Emigration Act for deceptive recruitment, which mandates protections for unskilled emigrants. L&T's intervention sets a precedent for ethical outsourcing, potentially influencing guidelines from the Ministry of External Affairs.
As the group prepares to depart, their story serves as a cautionary tale amid India's labour export boom—remittances hit $125 billion in 2024—but exposes gaps in oversight. Safe homecoming on November 5 will reunite families, but advocates like Ali demand systemic reforms: pre-departure training, wage guarantees, and local job creation to stem such tragedies. In Jharkhand's mineral-rich yet impoverished belts, this resolution offers hope, reminding us that corporate responsibility can bridge bureaucratic delays.
Also Read: Amit Shah Urges Bihar Voters to Back NDA for Stability, Warns Against ‘Return to Chaos’