RANCHI: The process for the payment of wages to Jharkhand workers stranded in Cameroon was initiated.
Following directives of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the state labour department also lodged FIRs against the employers and middlemen for not paying wages to 47 migrant workers from Jharkhand, who are currently stuck in Cameroon, Central Africa, a communique from the state IPRD department informed on Thursday.
“The FIRs were registered in Hazaribagh, Bokaro, and Giridih against the employers and middlemen,” read the statement.
The FIR mentions that these workers were sent to Cameroon without registration or a license under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, which is illegal.
The Chief Minister’s office received information that workers from Jharkhand employed by M/s Transrail Lighting Limited in Cameroon were not paid for three months and were seeking to return to India. The state govt soon swung into action by instructing the State Migrant Control Room to look into the problem.
“Following the CM’s orders, the State Migrant Control Room contacted the workers and the company. The company reported that the workers were paid $100 per month, and the remaining dues would be transferred to their Indian accounts. The workers confirmed this payment,” informed the statement.
Additionally, the Indian High Commission and Ministry of External Affairs were informed that M/s Transrail is in discussions with the workers to ensure their safe return, resolve pending payments, and address documentation issues.
“The control room team is actively contacting officials and workers via email and phone to facilitate a safe return. It is also being ensured that if the contractors fail to make the wage payments, their contracts will be terminated,” added the govt communique.
