Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday afternoon, October 31, 2025, directed the Deputy Commissioners of the three districts – Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Giridih – to ensure the safe return of the workers. File | Photo credit: PTI
The Jharkhand labor department has managed to get in touch with 48 migrant workers of the state stranded in North Africa’s Tunisia through the Indian embassy and is verifying their documents, officials said on Friday (Oct 31, 2025).
Migrant Control Cell (under Jharkhand Labor Department) Team Leader Shikha Lakra told PTI that on the orders of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, they have managed to establish contact with the migrant workers and are also in touch with the Indian Embassy in Tunisia.
“We have spoken to the migrant workers who are said to be stuck with a private firm in Tunisia and are verifying their documents. We are also in touch with officials of the Indian Embassy in Tunisia to ensure their safe return to their native places,” Ms Lakra said.
.@BokaroDc, @DC_Hazaribag@GiridihDc Investigate the above matter and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor and inform them by taking steps to help the migrant brothers.@IndiaTunisia please help@SPYadavGodda@migrantcell_JHhttps://t.co/3pqgLY5q4I
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) 31 October 2025
Taking cognizance of the plight of migrant workers, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on his official handle X on Friday afternoon directed the Deputy Commissioners of three districts – Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Giridih – to ensure the safe return of the workers.
Sikander Ali, a social activist who works for the cause of migrant workers and was the first to get in touch with the migrant cell sharing the plight of migrant workers who are reportedly stranded in Tunisia, told PTI that 19 workers are from Hazaribagh district, 14 from Giridih district and 15 from Bokaro district are stranded in Tunisia.
“One of the stranded workers, Sanjay Kumar of Pirtand Block Giridih, shared a video message with me late on Thursday evening which I passed on to the Migration Cell and also to several journalists who shared it with the Chief Minister on Friday,” Sikander Ali said.
He said 48 workers have been employed to lay high-speed cables through a Delhi-based private firm working on the project in Tunisia under a leading multinational company.
“In the video message, the workers alleged that the company is not paying them wages for the last three months and is also forcing them to work overtime. This is causing them mental stress. They want to return home but the company is not allowing them. The workers have appealed to the Center and the state government to help them return to their homes,” Ali said.
Published – 31 Oct 2025 19:44 IST
