Migrant workers stranded at Kolkata airport along with Sikandar Ali (far right) on arrival. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Eleven migrant workers from three districts of Jharkhand – Giridih, Hazaribagh and Bokaro – stranded in Dubai allegedly due to unpaid wages returned to their native places on Thursday (February 13, 2026). However, three wished to stay back.
Social activist Sikandar Ali, who works for the welfare of migrant workers, was present at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata to receive them on February 11.
They returned to their districts from Calcutta on February 12 traveling by train. The workers expressed their gratitude to the state government, central government, media and Mr. Ali for their safe return.
Those who returned from Dubai include Rajesh Mahato and Ajay Kumar Mahato of Giridih, Daleshwar Mahato of Bokaro and Jageshwar Mahato, Baijnath Mahato, Dilip Mahato, Gangadhar Mahato, Triloki Mahato, Deepak Kumar, Rohit Mahato and Seva Mahato of Hazaribagh.
Roshan Kumar and Ajay Kumar from Giridih district and Falendra Mahato from Hazaribagh decided to stay back.
All workers are employed by EMC Electromechanical Co. LLC in Dubai and engaged in transmission line work. They said they stopped working after a problem with salaries.
Shikha Lakra, head of the State Control Center for Migrant Workers under the Ministry of Labour, said: “We contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Through the consulate, a representative of the company was called to the consulate office and everything was discussed as per the agreement.”
She further said, “According to the agreement, the workers were supposed to serve with a three-month notice period, but the company agreed to one month. The second sentence mentioned that their contract was for two years. The company paid the visa fees, which amounted to almost 5,000 dirhams per worker, and also bore the transportation costs to Abu Dhabi. However, the workers had to pay for the plane ticket to India.”
The workers were also called to the labor office in Dubai and eventually agreed that the company would pay the visa fees for those who wanted to return and those who wanted to stay would continue to work there on the same agreement. They arrived at the Kolkata airport on a connecting flight from Bengaluru.
They all left for Dubai in the first week of October 2025. The recruitment was facilitated by Hazaribagh-based agent Ghanshyam Mahato, who had previously worked with the same company for 16 years.
According to Ms. Lakrová, this was the fastest return of a migrant worker, which was completed in less than two weeks. Workers have previously complained that they are forced to work overtime and are also facing problems with accommodation and food.
The stranded workers sent a video on February 2 to Mr Ali, who later shared the video on social media, appealing to the Jharkhand government to provide assistance for their return as the company confiscated their passports.
Speaking to Hindus on phone, Ajay Kumar Mahato said that if they had better earning opportunities in their state, they would not have to go to other places.
Mr. Ali said, “Jharkhand and central governments have actively facilitated the return of all workers. There are many such incidents which are extremely painful. Despite their reluctance, people are being forced to leave their homes to earn a living. The government must take concrete steps in this regard.”
Published – 13 Feb 2026 23:59 IST