Thirty-eight Indian nationals employed at the Ekaa HRIM Quarry in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have raised serious allegations of human trafficking, starvation, forced labor, and the unlawful seizure of passports. The workers are now calling for their immediate repatriation to India, following political intervention from the parliamentary opposition.
The situation escalated on Sunday when Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, along with Members of Parliament from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), held an emergency meeting with the Acting High Commissioner of India to Guyana. During this meeting, the opposition presented a list of demands aimed at ensuring the safety and dignity of the affected workers.
- The immediate return of all confiscated passports to the workers.
- Full payment of all outstanding wages and financial compensation for breaches of employment contracts.
- Financial restitution for the alleged inhumane treatment and psychological trauma endured.
- Provision of return airfare to India for all thirty-eight individuals.
The Opposition Leader has called for the Ministry of Labour, the Guyana Police Force, the Indian High Commission, and international human rights organizations to conduct an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the quarry’s operations.
Workers have reported severe human rights violations, including withheld salaries, lack of basic food and clean drinking water, and hazardous living and working conditions. In a written appeal sent to the Toshao of Batavia Village, they described an environment filled with starvation and fear, alleging that management demanded $5,000 USD from each worker as an “exit fee” to leave the compound.
Furthermore, the workers reported that the extreme operational pressure has led to fatalities, citing the death of a colleague, Sekhar Chhetri, who allegedly died due to unsafe working conditions without adequate medical care. The WIN parliamentary opposition is urging swift action to prevent a diplomatic crisis, emphasizing that the only acceptable resolution is the safe return of all workers to India and criminal charges against the quarry’s owner and management.
Source: hgptv.com
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