The Jharkhand Labour Department has successfully established contact with 48 migrant workers from the state who are stranded in Tunisia, North Africa, with the help of the Indian Embassy. Acting under the directive of Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren, officials are coordinating with the Embassy to ensure the safe return of all affected workers.
Ms. Shikha Lakra, Team Leader of the Migrant Control Cell under the Labour Department, confirmed that document verification is underway. “We have managed to reach the stranded migrant workers and are in constant touch with Indian Embassy officials in Tunisia to arrange for their safe repatriation,” Ms. Lakra stated.
CM Hemant Soren Directs Officials to Ensure Safe Return
Taking prompt action after receiving reports of the workers’ distress, Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren instructed the Deputy Commissioners of Bokaro, Hazaribagh, and Giridih districts to coordinate with central authorities and facilitate the safe return of all 48 workers.
The Chief Minister also emphasized that his government is committed to the welfare and protection of migrant workers from Jharkhand. “Every worker from our state is our responsibility. We will ensure their safe and dignified return,” Mr. Soren stated in an official message posted on X.
Workers Facing Severe Hardships in Tunisia
According to preliminary reports, the stranded workers, employed by a private firm in Tunisia, have allegedly not been paid for four months and are struggling to afford food and basic necessities. A video appeal from the workers revealed that they were promised secure jobs but later discovered that the employment was contractual, without any formal agreement papers.
A worker in the video claimed, “We were promised an eight-hour workday, but we are being forced to work nearly twelve hours daily. When we ask for payment, we are threatened with jail and told we cannot return to India.”
The affected workers hail from Jharkhand’s Giridih, Hazaribagh, and Bokaro districts — 19 from Hazaribagh, 14 from Giridih, and 15 from Bokaro.
State and Central Coordination Underway for Repatriation
Social activist Mr. Sikander Ali, who first informed the Labour Department about the plight of the workers, said, “The workers are under tremendous mental stress and want to return home. They have appealed to both the Centre and the state government for help.”
The Jharkhand Labour Department has intensified coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tunisia to expedite travel documentation and ensure the workers’ safe return at the earliest.
Officials have also set up a dedicated monitoring team within the Migrant Control Cell to track the situation and provide regular updates to the state government.
Government’s Commitment to Migrant Welfare
This incident has once again highlighted the Jharkhand government’s proactive approach toward the protection of migrant labourers. Under the leadership of Mr. Hemant Soren, the state has strengthened its migrant support systems, including helplines, district-level monitoring cells, and overseas coordination frameworks.
The Labour Department reaffirmed that necessary legal and administrative actions will be taken against any fraudulent recruitment practices to safeguard the rights of Jharkhand’s workers abroad.
