MEA takes steps to repatriate 26 Tamils in Libya

Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, Feb 10 (UNI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has taken up the issue of repatriating 26 Tamil workers, who were reportedly languishing in Libya without employment and food.

In a release here today, Standing Committee Chairman of Parliament on Law, Justice, Workers Welfare and Grievances M Sudharsana Natchiappan MP said the family members of 26 Tamils, most of them hailing from Melur in Madurai District, had sent petitions to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the Tamil Nadu Government and him requesting to take necessary action to bring them back to Tamil Nadu.

He said based on this, he had contacted the MEA and sought its intervention to repatriate them. The MEA had in turn contacted the Indian Mission in Libya to take necessary steps in this regard.

He said the MEA had informed him that the Indian Mission officials had contacted the employers of the Tamils to settle the issues amicably, after which they would be repatriated.

It may be recalled that the relatives of the victims had complained that Ganesan, an agent, had lured the workers to go to Libya, promising lucrative jobs with salaries ranging from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 per month.

He had sent many workers from Melur area to Libya, after collecting Rs 85,000 from each. But, the workers were paid Rs 8,000 by their employers, who made them work for 20 hours a day.

When the workers demanded higher wages, the employers denied them jobs and kept them locked up in a room in the company. One of the detained persons managed to communicate to his family about their plight, he said.

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