Over 50 Indian Workers Stuck in Malaysia, PMO Offers to Help

By Little India Desk | November 12, 2018

Over 59 Indians, including 15 workers from Rajasthan, are stuck in Malaysia and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has formed a team to facilitate their return to India.

Most of the workers stuck in the South East Asian country are from West Bengal and of the people stuck there, three are reportedly missing. Two families of the laborers, who had gone to Malaysia for work, have accused an agency of offering fake job positions, the Indian Express reported.

The families have accused the agency of taking away the passports of the men. According to the report, the laborers from Bengal contacted their families. Officials from National Anti-Trafficking Committee said the NGO is seeking help from the Central and State government.

A spokesperson of the NGO told Little India that as of now 59 people are reportedly trapped and their passports have been seized by the agency that hired them.

“We have written a letter to the Union ministry of External Affairs and the State Government on Nov.8 seeking help for the laborers. The men were sent on a tourist visa and are being made to work at a construction company. The family members have alleged that their passports have been taken away by a local agent. The men have also been allegedly told that if they try to return, they will be killed,” Indian Express quoted Ali as saying.

“We could get details of two laborers out of the 25 feared trapped there. That is why we gave a detailed account of these two in the letter. We are being approached by other families and we are collecting details. The figure may cross 32. We will hold another press conference on Saturday. The entire group was taken there with tourist visas,” he was quoted as saying in an earlier report of the Indian Express.

The workers hail from various districts of West Bengal including North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Midnapore, and Nadia districts, the report said. The Times of India reported that 15 workers of the 59 stuck in Malaysia are from Rajasthan.

Julfikar Ali Mondal, one of the laborers stuck in Malaysia was offered a job in a construction site, his family said.  “We paid Rs 90,000 to the agent who had offered him the job and it included the flight tickets, visa, and other paraphernalia. He had left for Malaysia on Sep. 9. Recently he suffered a fall and broke his hand and leg. Despite that, he is made to carry heavy rods, which was not part of his job description,” Julfikar’s mother told the publication. “My son wants to return but his passport has been taken away. We have now got in touch with members of the National Anti-Trafficking Committee,” she told the publication.

The report added that another worker, Sanjay Mullick, who was promised a job at a construction, is being made to work at a casino.

“Mullick’s family members were told that he would work as a construction worker, but he is made to work as an attendant to male customers at a casino. Mullick has told this family that he runs errands and even massages their feet. His passport has also been taken away,” Jinnar told the newspaper.

One of the agents of the agency told the publication, “They had gone on a contract. If they want to return early, a penalty needs to be paid and they will have to bear the cost of the return flight. It is being processed and they will return soon.” He, however, said that the passports were taken to fulfill official works.

Meanwhile, the Times of India reported that a five-member team has been formed, led by PMO undersecretary, Anup Sharma, to facilitate the return of Indian workers.