Indian workers get $20 mn settlement against US firm

Washington, July 17: Around 200 Indian workers have won a compensation of USD 20 million in compensation against an US based firm for defrauding and exploiting them.

These Indian workers were brought to US by Alabama based firm Signal International to be deployed to repair damaged oil rigs after Hurricane Katrina.

According to media reports, they were allegedly promised jobs and permanent US residency. They allegedly paid between $10,000-$20,000 each in fees and costs

Many of the victims sold their properties or borrowed money to pay the fees to labour recruiter and lawyer.
On their arrival in India in 2006 they came to know that they are not going to get green cards or permanent residency as promised.

In February, a federal jury in New Orleans awarded $14 million in damages to five Indian guest workers represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), finding that the company and its agents engaged in labor trafficking, fraud, racketeering and discrimination.

SPLC is an American non-profit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation.

OneIndia News