21 goldsmiths from Bengal stuck in Jeddah, send SOS to anti-trafficking body
Summary
Date Reported: 6 Oct 2019
Location: Saudi Arabia
Companies
Musalli Factory for Gold & Jewellery - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 21
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 21 - India , Jewellery , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Failing to renew visas , Withholding Passports , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: The workers recorded a video plea to the government and activists to free them, which drew the attention of the National Anti Trafficking Committee (NATC) in Kolkata. It confirmed ongoing investigations and its intention to address the issue of withheld passports and repatriation.
Source type: News outlet
A video of around 21 goldsmith workers from Jeddah Saudi Arabia pleading to the Indian government and activists to have them freed reached the inbox of the National Anti-Trafficking Committee (NATC), Kolkata Chapter, on October 22, 2019...
[A letter read] “We came to Saudi Arabia... [in] 2011, for a company named Musalli Gold... but for the past two years, things are not that well... our visa expired. Then they started paying our salary very late and now our food allowance has been completely stopped... [After workers applied for permission to leave] the company replied saying that they had not paid tax to the Saudi Government for 29 years and hence the employee would have to wait."