11 Of 14 Trapped Jharkhand Workers Rescued From Dubai, Allege Assault And Unpaid Dues

Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 09:26 IST

The workers landed in Bengaluru from Abu Dhabi. They then travelled to Kolkata before reaching their districts in Jharkhand by road.

The Indian government has rescued 11 of the 14 workers from Jharkhand who were stranded in Dubai over alleged non-payment of wages. The workers returned to India on Thursday after the state government’s intervention.

According to The Indian Express, Shikha Lakra, an official at the state migrant workers control room, said the workers landed in Bengaluru from Abu Dhabi. They then travelled to Kolkata before reaching their districts in Jharkhand by road.

Three workers, one from Hazaribagh and two from Giridih, have stayed back in the UAE.

Triloki Mahato from Hazaribagh said each worker spent around Rs 12,000 on flight tickets.

“We paid for everything ourselves. No government assistance came. We booked tickets and came back," he said.

He said Ajay Kumar from Hazaribagh and Roshan and Falender Mahato from Giridih stayed back after being moved to another section of work. “All of us had protested, but they decided to stay," he said.

Workers allege unpaid wages in Dubai

Mahato alleged that the workers did not receive wages for nearly one-and-a-half months before leaving.

“Earlier also, payments were cut heavily. They would give 200 or 300 dirhams at a time, just enough to manage food. Our full dues were not paid," he said.

He also claimed that when the workers demanded full payment and sought to return home, they were threatened.

“Our camp boss used to threaten us and there was an incident when he entered our room and beat our coworker, Baijnath Mahato," he alleged.

Workers decide against returning

Deepak Kumar, 32, from Hazaribagh, said the group has decided not to return to the same company.

“We are back and now searching for other opportunities. We were not paid properly there. If we go abroad again, we will first ensure there is a written agreement," he said.

SOS after video message

The workers, from Giridih, Hazaribagh and Bokaro, said they were stranded after their employer allegedly failed to pay wages as promised and made salary deductions.

They sent a video message about their condition and contacted social activist Sikandar Ali through social media for help.

दुबई में झारखंड के 14 मज़दूर फँसे हुए हैं। वीडियो जारी कर उन्होंने झारखंड और राज्य सरकार से गुहार लगाई है। उन्होंने बताया कि कंपनी ने उनका पासपोर्ट जमा रख लिया है। तीन महीने से उन्हें पेमेंट नहीं मिला है और वे दो दिन से भूखे हैं। @JharkhandCMO pic.twitter.com/tFC63SIdxK— Bihar_se_hai (@Bihar_se_hai) February 2, 2026

After verifying their details, Ali shared the information publicly and sought government intervention. The SOS team under the Labour Department then began steps to rescue and bring them back.

Ali said three workers remain in the UAE as they did not have immediate funds to buy return tickets.

“After the matter came into public, there was pressure. Eleven managed to come back, but three are still there," he said.

News world 11 Of 14 Trapped Jharkhand Workers Rescued From Dubai, Allege Assault And Unpaid Dues

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