Last batch of TN labourers from Libya reach Delhi

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on December 9, 2010:

CHENNAI: The last batch of 26 labourers (of the total 89), who faced hardships in Libyan labour camps after their agents deserted them, reached New Delhi on Wednesday morning.

About 50 labourers, mainly from Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and Cuddalore districts, returned in two batches, and the third and final batch of 14 men arrived on last Saturday.

According to sources, all the 83 labourers are expected to reach Chennai on Friday night.

They are likely to meet Chief Minister M Karunanidhi next week to seek action against the two overseas manpower agents based at Ramapuram in Chennai and at Melur near Madurai.

Balamurugan, brother of one of the labourers Mayilvahanan, told Express, "While the Chennai-based agent promised a salary of about Rs 20,000 per month for my brother, he was not paid a single penny for the first three months. After the family members lodged a strong protest with the agent, he received a salary of 300 Libyan Dinars (LYD), roughly about Rs 11,000, for one month. Later on, that was also stopped."

"Whenever we contacted them, they would scream for help as they were forced to live in inhuman conditions, without any basic amenities, at Libyan labour camps in Mottai Brak and Shamno, several miles away from the capital Tripoli," Balamurugan said.

He said that the manpower agents based in Mumbai collected a commission of about $1000 per labourer from the Libyan company.

Over and above that the sub agents in Chennai and Madurai collected Rs 1.5 lakh as fees from these labourers promising decent salary.