Ten Sri Lankan labourers will finally be flying home over the weekend after the Sri Lankan embassy intervened in a row with their sponsor which had left them with no pay for two months.

The Qatar Tribune reports that the men – who had been living together in one room with only one air conditioning unit – had been without money, food or water since May. The men hadn’t worked since May the 15th.

The labourers, employees of Saturn Trading and H Trading (both owned by the same sponsor) have survived due to the goodwill of local residents, who gave them food and water. 

WMV Wansekra, Counsellor, Labour & Welfare officer at the Sri Lankan Embassy says:

“All the salary and overtime dues of the workers have been settled by the company and we are happy that the workers are flying home today. The company provided them air tickets also, though they were not entitled to it as they worked for only 18 months and not 20 months as per the contract.

Such incidents take place because some workers do not come through proper channels. They seek help of private agencies to get free visas due to their ignorance, which sometimes lands them in trouble.”

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo by Richard Messenger