18 stranded Indian workers safely return from Libya after weeks of hardship

All 18 rescued Indian nationals are workers hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

All 18 rescued Indian nationals are workers hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
All 18 rescued Indian nationals are workers hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Workers rescued after being trapped in Benghazi under false promises

A group of 18 Indian nationals, who were stranded for several weeks in Benghazi, Libya, safely landed in New Delhi on Wednesday morning, officials confirmed.

The workers arrived on a Turkish Airlines flight at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of the day, according to an official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Indian Embassy facilitates safe return

The Indian Embassy in Libya successfully coordinated the safe return of the workers, who had been trapped in Benghazi after falling victim to a fake recruitment scam.

The individuals were reportedly lured by fraudulent recruitment agents offering false promises of lucrative job opportunities. According to sources, a Libyan contractor recruited the workers in Dubai, convincing them to travel to Libya without proper visas.

Since they had no visa, we secured their release through an exit permit mechanism, which took some time. We were assisted by the Libyan authorities throughout the process. During this period, our Embassy in Libya took care of them and provided for all their basic daily needs,” an official said.

Workers’ ordeal at Libyan cement company

All 18 rescued Indian nationals are workers hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Their difficulties began when they started working at the Libyan Cement Company’s Benghazi plant in September 2023.

Disputes arose after the workers protested against unpaid wages, leading to mistreatment and withholding of their dues by their employers. The workers alleged that they were subjected to physical abuse and held in prison-like conditions following their protests.

Embassy’s continuous support and cooperation with Libyan authorities

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the Embassy remained in constant communication with the stranded workers, ensuring their well-being and providing them with daily essentials.

The Embassy worked closely with the local authorities and assisted the Indian workers with the required authorization and travel documents,” Jaiswal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Three other workers repatriated earlier

In addition to the 18 workers who returned on Wednesday, three others from the same group were successfully repatriated in October 2023, the MEA confirmed.

India’s travel ban to Libya amid worsening security situation

Libya has been experiencing worsening security conditions since the outbreak of civil war in 2014. In response to escalating violence, the Government of India imposed a travel ban on Indian nationals to Libya on April 16, 2016.

The security situation has further deteriorated in recent months, and currently, there are no direct flights between India and Libya.

Gratitude for Libyan authorities’ support

The Indian government expressed appreciation for the Libyan authorities’ assistance in ensuring the safe return of Indian nationals.

We thank the Libyan authorities for their support and cooperation in securing the release of our citizens,” Jaiswal added.

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