Quepem: Fourteen Workers from Telangana Engaged by the Sub-Contractor for the Railroad Double Tracking Project in Assolda in Quepem Taluka, saved by the Quepem sub-division judge on Wednesday morning after they worked in an inhuman condition and without a full payment of wages for eight months final.
Workers consist of seven men and seven women, including a 72-year-old woman.
Four children were also saved.
There were 18 workers and four children, but four workers decided to continue the work they did.
South Goa collector Ruchika Katyal said that this problem was referred to the Labor Department.
Anti-human trading NGOs based in Goa Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ), accused every paid worker only Rs 300 at the end of each week and that they often have to be hungry because of the lack of money to buy important items.
Further claimed that the workers live in a tin hut near the railway in the middle of no hygienic conditions and without the right toilet facilities.
In terrible trouble, the workers gave their relatives back home in their deteriorating condition, encouraging the latter to reach the National Adivated Solidarity Council (NASC) – a foundation for sustainable development from Hyderabad – for assistance.
Acting on the complaint submitted by the NASC team with assistance from Arz on Monday morning, the South Goa collector directed the deputy collector Quepem Nilesh Daigodkar to immediately rescue the workers.
Inspections as a result were carried out in the presence of labor officers, police Quepem, NASC and Arz on Wednesday.
All workers shift to a safe place in Tilamroll and will be sent back to their home country by train.
“Sub-contractors are found only to pay Rs 200 per worker, per day instead of the minimum wage of Rs 430.
During inspections, sub-contractors pay them Rs 2.3 lakh as arrears,” said Daigodkar Toi.
He further said that the Infratech Track and Tower Ltd was awarded the tender for train tracking trains in Assolda, but the workers were employed by sub-contractors.
Declare that they are a clear case of human trafficking because they are not allowed to go home, Arz members Arun Pandey told TII that NGOs would submit a case against the sub-contractor after receiving the Deputy Collector’s investigation report.
He also demanded that the sub-contractor license be canceled.