By IANS,
New Delhi : With over 1,100 Indian workers in trouble in Angola, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Friday said all efforts for “swift resolution” of the issues involved were being made.
“I am personally following the issues relating to the problems the Indian workers unfortunately are facing in Angola. It is engaging our most serious attention. I am sure all efforts will be made a swift resolution of the issues involved,” Krishna told reporters here.
He also assured those workers wanting to return home to India that all arrangements could be made “without any difficulty and swiftly”.
“We have done it before elsewhere, we are going to do it now in Angola,” he said.
About their financial compensation, Krishna said India will take it up with the company concerned.
“We hope we will be able to resolve the issues,” he added.
The Indian workers are employed in a cement factory at Sumbe in the southern African country and there has been a labour unrest at the factory due to non-payment of certain emoluments to them.
The $860 million cement factory project employs about 1,260 workers of whom 1,100 Indians were recruited by Dubai-based ETA Star.
The issue has been raised with the external affairs ministry by at least two state chief ministers – Gujarat’s Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh’s Kiran Kumar Reddy.
The trouble has been festering since February this year, but it took a turn for the worse earlier this month when the Indian workers “became very restive” and clashed with the company officials.
This led to local police charging 59 Indians under several offences and initiating prosecution.