51 Stranded Indian Workers Starve Every Day to Save Money in Oman

Photo for representational purpose only.

(Photo: Reuters) 

Around 50 Indian workers of a construction company in Oman are forced to have food only every-other-day to ensure they can save whatever money they have till they get their pending salary, passport, and airfare from the company.

We only have a little money. We don’t know when our issues will get resolved. So, we have food only every-other-day. Otherwise, we will exhaust the money we have.

A worker, who requested anonymity fearing company officials.

The workers, who migrated to Oman after paying Rs 80,000 to the recruiter in India, were forced to leave the company after they claimed their pending salaries.

We were not getting salaries on time. Salaries are pending for five to six months for a majority of us. When we downed our tools claiming our pending salary, they switched off power supply to our rooms, stopped food, and threw us out of our rooms. 

A construction worker

The company did not responded to an email till the time this report was filed.

The stranded workers are from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Kerala.

Pakistani Provides Shelter for Stranded Indians

The 51 Indian workers form Al Khuwair site are now staying in three small rooms in a flat in Ruwi, a commercial hub in Muscat, the capital city of Oman.

The rooms, which can otherwise accommodate only 10, has been provided by a Pakistani.

The land lord knows that we are stranded. But, he was kind enough to provide us shelter. We are 51. But what to do? We have to adjust.

Engineers Struggle Without Food

Among the stranded workers are engineers.

Natesan N, a stranded worker, said they came after paying Rs 80,000 to the recruiter in Chennai, India.

After coming here, we were not getting salary on time, medical assistance, and good food too. When we complained, we were thrown out. When we approached the embassy, we didn’t get a response in favour of us.

Natesan N, stranded worker

He said, when they requested the company to send us back, they asked for another Rs 60,000.

“After paying the recruiter in India, now we have to pay again? We don’t have money. One of our friends, who wanted to go back to perform his father’s final rites, had to pay Rs 60,000 to get back the passport,” Natesan added.

Unhappy with Indian Embassy's Response

The workers had approached the Indian Embassy in Oman on 3 September and have submitted a complaint. However, the workers weren’t satisfied with the embassy’s response.

“We were told to return from where we were thrown out. How could we do that? We felt bad,” a worker said.

An email sent to the Indian Embassy in Muscat seeking a response on the stranded workers’ issue didn’t elicit a response till the time this report was filed.

Families in India Worried

Chelladurai S, a bus conductor in Kovilpatti near Thootukdi, is worried about his only son, Sattanathan, in Oman.

“He migrated to Oman eight months back as an electrician. The agent had promised many things and we paid Rs 65,000. But, during the first few months itself, my son said things were quite different,” Chelladurai said.

“And now, for the last three months, my son is starving,” he added.

Sattanathan is a diploma holder. His earnings were a big help to us. We have loans to repay. Now, we are struggling a lot. Let’s forget our struggle. I am worried about my son. Without money, how can one person survive in a foreign land?

His son in Muscat said that they don’t want anything other than their passports.

900 Stranded

A few weeks ago, some 900 Indian workers were left in a lurch by another company in Oman, forcing the Indian government to blacklist it. Out of the 900 stranded workers, a few have returned home by giving up their pending salaries and other benefits.

A worker from the company who returned last week, said he is unsure on when he will get his pending salary.

“I came back after giving my power of attorney to a lawyer to fight my case. I don’t know how long it will take. Till then, what can I do there without a job and money? Daily food was also a big problem. So, l came back,” the worker added.

Around 7 Lakh Indians Working in Oman

According to Oman government’s August statistics, there are around 691,449 Indians working in Oman.

An Oman trade unionist in Muscat said that even after repeated instructions to companies to abide by the Omani labour law and not to exploit the workers, some are not listening.

“It is unfortunate to see workers being stranded. The government should initiate strict actions against companies who are violating labour law and exploiting workers,” the trade unionist added.

Hit by Low Oil Prices

According to World Bank report, protracted low oil prices still weigh on Oman’s economy.

The report said that the oil producing and exporting countries agreement to cut oil production in 2017 and the government’s ongoing commitment to austerity are likely to further depress growth.

“Fiscal and current account deficits remain large and Oman is increasingly resorting to external borrowing to finance its deficits. However, growth is expected to pick up in 2018 as Oman pins hopes for its economic diversification plan on the fisheries and tourism sectors,” the report added.

An Indian legal advisor in Oman said that decline in economy has affected the job prospects for both locals and Indians.

“Lay offs, salary delays, non-payment of salaries, and salary disputes have become the new normal in Oman now. Companies are struggling due to economy conditions and the poor workers suffer,” Solomon MU, a legal advisor in Oman, said.

According to a document possessed through Right to Information Act from the Indian Embassy in Muscat, till 15 July this year, the embassy had received 1,240 labour complaints already. In 2016, the number of the cases was 2,195.

(The author is an Kerala-based journalist with a decade-long Gulf reporting experience and can be reached @rejitweets.)