NURMAHAL
The Union External Ministry has initiated action to help about a hundred Punjabi workers stranded in Abu Dhabi.
Undersecretary External Affairs Minister’s, Ministry of External Affairs in an email message to section officer Medad directed him to look into the matter regarding the repatriation of 100 workers who are stranded in Abu Dhabi without passports and sent him a representation to Union Minster Dr. S.Jai Shankar by residents of the Punjab State.
The Punjab state residents on Sunday raised the issue of 100 Punjabi workers in Dubai with the Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Dilbag Singh a resident of Baina Pur village and a social activist in a representation to the Foreign Minister said that passports of these workers are deposited with their company (Square General Contracting Co, Abu Dhabi). This private company forced workers out of their jobs, but their passports were not being returned. Because of this, these workers are not able to come back. He urged him to direct the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to take up the issue with the Emirates authorities so that the workers’ passports could be returned to them. He said that most of the workers had applied online for a return to India but could not return due to lack of passport. He said that the parents of these youths have told him that they were ready to pay for their air tickets, but the company was not returning their passports. He has requested the Centre to intervene immediately in this matter and open a help desk there.