“We joined IL&FS about six months ago for a job. For the last two months, work has been stopped. Locals here have taken us hostage. They tell us that they won’t let us go till they receive their salaries. Since we are not allowed to leave the camp, we are finding it very difficult to arrange food and water. We have not taken a bath for three days now as there is no water. We have been boiling rice and potatoes for three days and surviving on that.”
This is a plea for help by Khurram Imam, an Indian employee of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS). Earlier this week, he alleged that he was being held hostage in Ethiopia since 25 November after the company failed to pay salaries to its local employees.
Imam told The Quint about the condition of the seven Indian workers who have allegedly been held hostage.
'Not Paid For 5 Months'
The issue reportedly began over the termination of a venture between IL&FS Transportation Networks and the Spanish company Elsamex, which is engaged in road construction. The salaries of the local workers were reportedly withheld since October 2018, when the venture was called off.
After this, the workers allegedly held 7 Indian employees hostage, demanding that their salaries be paid.
Imam, an IL&FS senior engineer, said that the Indian workers have not been paid their salaries for more than 5 months either.
“I have been working here for almost eight months, but I have received salary for only two. I have not received my salary for the others.”Khurram Imam, Indian worker
But Imam and other Indian workers have more pressing concerns. They are afraid for their lives, and hope is dwindling as they wait to hear from the company management.
“The local management doesn’t have the money to pay us... they are calling the Indian management, mailing them and tweeting to them, but there has been no response.”Khurram Imam, Indian worker
India in Touch With Ethiopian Authorities
Official sources have said that the government has taken up the issue with the Ethiopian authorities and the IL&FS management on priority. "We are doing our best to ensure settlement of this matter," a source told The Quint.
“We have taken this matter up on priority with both the Ethiopian authorities and the IL&FS management with a view to resolving this expeditiously. We are doing our best to ensure a settlement of this matter.”An official source
Imam also claimed that he and the other detained Indian workers have reached out to External Affairs Ministry officials, but the government is yet to respond.
“I had spoken to Mrs Sushma Swaraj’s PA, who had given me another contact no of someone from MEA. I called that no (number) and I was given two email IDs. I mailed (to) those two IDs and my mail was delivered on one ID, but it didn’t get delivered to the other. I have received no response. Not just me, even the others here had written to that (email) ID but no one received a response.”Khurram Imam, Indian worker
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