12 Telangana migrant workers stranded in Jordan return home safely

Twelve migrant workers from Telangana, who were stranded in Jordan after facing severe hardships, have safely returned to India following the intervention of former minister and BRS MLA T. Harish Rao. The workers, from Jagtial, Nirmal, Kamareddy, Nizamabad, and Siddipet districts, arrived in Hyderabad early Friday morning and later met Harish Rao at his residence to express their gratitude.

The workers revealed that during their time in Jordan, they endured extreme difficulties, including lack of proper food and accommodation, and struggled to make their way back home. Despite repeated appeals to both the state and central governments, they received no assistance. They also highlighted that neither Congress nor BJP representatives responded to their pleas. Expressing relief and gratitude, the workers said they would remain indebted to Harish Rao and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for arranging their safe return and bearing all travel-related expenses.

Harish Rao personally inquired about their experiences and the conditions they faced in Jordan. He assured the workers that they should not worry and encouraged them to focus on creating sustainable livelihoods in Telangana. Special vehicles were arranged to transport them safely to their respective hometowns.

Speaking about the initiative, Rao said that under the guidance of former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), efforts had been ongoing for two weeks to bring the stranded workers home. “When the central and state governments failed to respond, we negotiated with the Jordanian company, paid penalties, and covered their travel expenses ourselves,” he said. Rao emphasized that many young Telangana migrants face hardships abroad due to recruitment agent exploitation and poor working conditions.

Harish Rao also criticized the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government and the central government for failing to implement the promised Gulf Welfare Board for migrant workers, which was announced in April 2024. He called on Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay to establish a dedicated department to support Telangana workers facing difficulties abroad. “People give us power to help those in distress. This is our responsibility,” Rao added, reaffirming that the BRS will continue to stand by migrant workers as a responsible opposition party.

Across Gulf countries, Indian migrant workers continue to face challenges, including workplace accidents, delayed wages, poor living standards, and legal restrictions under the Kafala system. Reports indicate that between 2017 and 2024, nearly 21,000 migrant workers died in Saudi Arabia due to harsh working conditions, while in Kuwait, a June 2024 building fire killed 50 migrant workers, most of them Indians. Similar hardships were reported in Qatar during FIFA World Cup 2022 projects and in Oman, where domestic workers face severe exploitation.

The gradual abolition of the Kafala system in Jordan and other Gulf countries is expected to improve workers’ rights, allow job mobility, enhance living conditions, and reduce psychological stress. Harish Rao highlighted that responsible political action is crucial to safeguard the welfare of Telangana workers abroad.