Indian workers stuck in Libya to be back in Aug

New Delhi, Aug 12: After the talks with the Libyan government, hundreds of Indian workers stuck in Libya without being paid salaries since Oct 2009, will return India, says Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi.

"My ministry held talks with the government, the people stuck in Libya will return at the earliest, ending the ministry's long-standing effort. They are processing their exit visas and I expect them to be here by the end of Aug," Ravi told.

After a two-day visit to Libya by the Emigration Director K C Badhok and minister's additional personal secretary K V Unnikrishnan, the report was submitted to Ravi on Wednesday, Aug 11.

"On (Indian Ambassador to Libya) M Manimekalai's request for help, I sent two officials from the ministry to look into the matter and negotiate with the Libyan government and to bring them back to India." Ravi said.

The ministry has sanctioned 500,000 to provide food and medical aid to the nearly 560 workers rehabilitated in five different camps in and around Libyan capital Tripoli.

Ministry officials said nearly 700 workers from India working on various construction projects in Libya were left in a limbo when an Indonesian contracting company, CKG, hired by Libyan government agency Organization for Development of Administrative Centers, stopped paying the workers since Oct 2009.

OneIndia News