Job seekers stranded in Kuwait start returning home

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 16, 2019: Abhishek, was among the 35 victims of job fraud and is a native of Badaje in Manjeshwar, Kasargod district. Abhishek, who had been struggling in Kuwait and returned to Kasargod district yesterday July 15, Monday, reminisced his scepticism about the return.

 

“I had dreamt of getting a good job and earning a good income while leaving for Kuwait six months ago. Unfortunately, I underwent a lot of difficulties there. Without  work, food and water, I struggled there for living. There was no hope of returning back to native,” he said.

As many as 58 persons who had landed at Kuwait through various agencies had been left high and dry. Of these, 35 Mangalureans had been to Kuwait through Manikya Associates placement company. After undergoing a hell-like situation, these youth are returning to their native places in batches.

The first batch had 15 stranded youth, including Abhishek, who reached Mumbai on Sunday noon. He arrived in Mangaluru on Monday at 6.30 pm.

Elaborating on the fraud, he said, “The agency had promised a bike rider job for me. There was, however, no job in Kuwait. Only eight persons out of 34 from Mangaluru had got jobs. Owing to lack of identity cards and skills, the others were not employed in Kuwait.”

“In Kuwait, I was paid for the first three months since January. After they stopped paying, I had to struggle to pay for even food and water. We used to spend our days confining ourselves to our rooms on empty stomach,” he said.

Abhishek added, “We had paid Rs 65,000 to the agency, but did not even know whom to approach for justice in Kuwait. We got relief only after posting our grievance through a video on social media.”  A total of 19 persons will return to Mangaluru on July 19.

“The company had slapped a huge fine on 15 persons who were with us. Their passports are still in the company’s possession. They can return only after paying the fine,” he said.

Abhishek said the Indian Embassy second secretary Sibi U S, K Jeevsagar of the Embassy, MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, engineer Mohandas Kamath, Adithi International chairman Akash S, NRIs Gokuldas, Binu Philip, Joseph P, B Shekar, Raj Bhandary, Vijath Fernandes, Madhav Naik, Naushad Bajpe, Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association’s Mabiya Kadaba have extended a helping hand to the stranded Indians in Kuwait.