KTR writes to Sushma's over 29 TS workers trapped in KSA

Nri Affairs Minister K. Tarakarama Rao on Monday wrote a letter to Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj seeking her intervention to help 29 migrant workers from Telangana, working with Al-Hajry Overseas Company at Al-Hassa, in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who have been held in captivity.

KTR informed the Union Minister that 29 migrant workers from Telangana State working in Saudi Arabia were held in captivity for the last 12 days without any food or basic amenities. He said one Boragalla Shekhar of Kamareddy district has contacted to inform that he along with 28 others from Telangana State working for Al-Hajry Overseas Company at Al-Hassa has requested for leave to visit home town. In response, the said company, not only demanded $50,000 each to relieve them but refused to provide the expenses for travel.

"For redressel of their grievance, the individuals approached 'Labour Court' and subsequently 'Amir Court' for Justice. The Amir Court issued directions to the employer company to bear all expenses and send the said 29 employees to their native places within three days. However, in the meantime the said company has taken all the 29 employees into their custody and is holding them captive in a room at Allsafaniya Kouqt, Bodar, city Kanji, Saudi Arabia, denying them food / water or medicines and other basic amenities for the last 12 days," KTR said in his letter.

KTR said that there was a need for immediate intervention of the Government of India and it should take up the issue with the host country Saudi Arabia to ensure that all the 29 employees are safely released by the employer company and repatriated to India, at the earliest.