Ranchi — Relief swept through families in Jharkhand as 17 migrant workers who had been trapped in Cameroon returned home safely on Monday, thanks to swift action by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The workers had gone abroad with hopes of better opportunities but ended up facing exploitation after their employer, Transrail Lighting Limited, reportedly denied them wages for four months. Stranded without money for food or essentials, they sent out a desperate video plea on social media seeking help.
The Jharkhand government alerted the MEA, which worked in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Cameroon to secure their release and pending salaries.
Of the 19 workers who left for Cameroon, 17 are now reunited with their families, while the remaining two will return on Tuesday. The case underlines the dangers of fraudulent overseas recruitment and the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect Indian workers abroad.
With inputs from IANS