Telangana workers stranded in Europe, Russia after fake job promises

The Story in Brief

Nearly 40 per cent of complaints received by the Pravasi Mithra Labour Union now come from Europe and Russia, marking a shift from the Gulf countries that earlier accounted for most distress calls. Workers are lured with promises of high salaries, then trapped on tourist or Schengen visas. They are forced to work 12, 14 hours a day in packaging or other low-paying jobs, locked in their rooms and rarely allowed outside. The union president, Swadesh Parkipandla, said agents take around Rs 3 lakh from each person. One worker from Nirmal, now in Moscow, said he has not received two months’ wages. Another who returned from Russia said he was promised a banking job but made to do garbage segregation for 30 per cent less pay.