As many as 39 migrant labourers from Telangana, who had been stranded in Saudi Arabia for over a year, were repatriated to India on Monday. The labourers were left stranded in Saudi Arabia after the construction company that had employed them closed down in 2018. The 39 were brought back to India on Monday following the combined efforts of the Centre and the Telangana government.
The company that closed down had recruited hundreds of labours from different countries, including India. The Indian labourers had been living a difficult life after the company shut, as, without any work, it had become tough for them to survive. The labourers had alleged that they were left with nothing and the camps, set up by the company as relief, failed to provide any amenities and food.
The labourers then reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and filed a complaint with the labour court in Saudi Arabia. The court had given time the company time to clear the pending wages and then ordered that exit visas be issued to them to repatriate them to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs in India then arranged flight tickets for the labourers. The Telangana government’s NRI cell had also coordinated with MEA officials for the safe return of the Indians.
On Monday, Telangana NRI officials will be receiving the 39 labourers in Hyderabad on Monday evening. Officials will also give each of them Rs 1,000 as travel fare from Hyderabad to their native places.
E Chittibabu, an official with the Telangana NRI department told TNM that the Telangana Chief Secretary had written to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia regarding the labourers’ repatriation. They will be sent to their native places after they have been received at Hyderabad airport.
While appreciating the efforts of the state and central governments efforts repatriate the migrant labourers, activists are seeking permanent rehabilitation for the labourers.
Speaking to TNM, Manda Bheem Reddy, the president of Emigrants Welfare Forum, said, “Migrant labourers are coming back after losing everything in the Gulf countries due to many reasons. Like the state of Kerala, the government should implement welfare schemes for them. The government should set up an organisation for the permanent rehabilitation and re-integration of migrant labourers.”
He also said that the lack of rehabilitation policy for migrants is forcing them to take their own lives as they are debt-ridden and are suffering losses. He also suggested that the government can use their skills and employ them in development projects as part of the rehabilitation measures.
The state of Telangana sees a high amount of emigration cases, with many people travelling to countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar and Bahrain and Kuwait in search of employment. According to Reuters, around 2.7 million Indians are in Saudi Arabia, employed in low-paying jobs in the construction and service sectors.