Gopalganj: More than 400 workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, employed at Sendan International Company Limited in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, are stranded in dire conditions. The workers, hailing from districts including Gopalganj and Siwan, have alleged that they have not been paid salaries or provided adequate food for the past eight months. Adding to their plight, the company has reportedly refused to let them return home.
Desperate for relief, the stranded workers have reached out to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister through e-mails, requesting urgent help to return to India. Despite repeated attempts to contact the Indian Embassy via phone and email, the workers claim they have received no positive response.
In a video shared by the workers, they described the deteriorating conditions they are facing and warned that their situation could worsen if immediate assistance is not provided.
Established Company, Broken Promises
Sendan International Company Limited, established in 1994 and headquartered in Yanbu, operates in sectors such as oil, gas, fertilisers, electricity, and transportation. It has long recruited workers from India, especially from eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar, for its construction and allied services.
Among the affected are:
- Rajkishore Kumar from Dhamapakar village, Manjha block (Gopalganj)
- Balinder Singh from Bhagwanpur Ekdanga, Thawe block
- Dilip Kumar Chauhan from Fatehpur Digha, Uchkagaon block
- Shailesh Kumar Chauhan from Rajendra Nagar, Gopalganj town
- Omprakash Singh from Balepur Bathua Bazar, Phulwaria block
- Several others from nearby villages and the Siwan district are also reportedly stranded.
Families Appeal for Government Intervention
Back home, the workers’ families are in a state of anxiety and helplessness. Many have approached Gopalganj MP Dr. Alok Kumar Suman and have also alerted the district administration.
When contacted, Dr. Alok Kumar Suman said,
“I have received information about the issue, but no formal application has been submitted to me yet. If family members contact me directly, I assure them that the government will take the necessary steps to bring the workers home.”
A Growing Pattern of Exploitation
This incident is part of a growing pattern of Indian workers facing exploitation abroad, particularly in Gulf countries. Workers are often lured by job agents promising lucrative salaries, only to end up in harsh conditions with little or no legal recourse.
