Home safe from Libya,but Indians stare at long battle for dues

After weeks of anxiety and a potential threat to their lives,90 Indians working in Libya and who were brought back on March 7 are now facing a fresh uncertainty the fate of their dues from their employer,ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh each.

After weeks of anxiety and a potential threat to their lives,90 Indians working in Libya and who were brought back on March 7 are now facing a fresh uncertainty the fate of their dues from their employer,ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh each.

About 75 engineers and 15 technicians employed with ISPATs Libyan sister concern GSHL were first shipped from Libya to Malta between March 5 and March 7 and then flown in two batches to Delhi and Mumbai. Located in the Libyan city of Misurata,that falls between areas dominated by Gaddafi followers on one side and rebels on the other,the camp of these Indians had been in the midst of danger during crossfire since the strife first broke out.

The group considers themselves lucky because soon after they boarded a ship from Libya,news came in about an aerial attack very close to the camp where they had been staying.

Expressing uncertainty over the future of its Libyan unit,the company has refused to clear their pending salaries. Since Tuesday,the group has been making the rounds of the companys HR office in Belapur. The total dues of all employees together add up to more than Rs 5 crore,they claimed.

Vivek Markanday,a engineer from Mumbai,worked in Libya for 27 months but has received salary for only 17 months,he said. The salary for 10 months adding up to $30,000 is pending. We cant appraoch a court in India because the company is registered in Libya. The company does not want to clear our dues because then we will leave the job and they will find it difficult to find replacements, said Markanday.

The employees will now have a final meeting with the management on March 19 after which it will announce further action,they said. An official from the Libya unit,who is trying to negotiate with the employees,said the company is in a difficult position as it has to receive over $2 million from Libyan company LISCO. Since February 22,the operations stopped in the plant and we are yet to receive $2 million from them for our services, said the official.

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Home safe from Libya,but Indians stare at long battle for dues

After weeks of anxiety and a potential threat to their lives,90 Indians working in Libya and who were brought back on March 7 are now facing a fresh uncertainty  the fate of their dues from their employer,ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh each.

After weeks of anxiety and a potential threat to their lives,90 Indians working in Libya and who were brought back on March 7 are now facing a fresh uncertainty the fate of their dues from their employer,ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh each.