New Delhi: A 32-year-old Delhi-based mechanical engineer has alleged harassment and high-handedness at work and forced deportation from Kuwait. Aman Bhola served at the American Military Base — Camp Arifjan along the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border in Saba Salim — from April 2023 to March 2023, before he was thrown out of the country on “flimsy grounds”.
‘Inhuman practice’
Aman claimed that the manager at the camp forced them to work 16 hour-shifts, instead of the stipulated 12. “However, we got paid for only 12 hours. And when I raised my voice against the inhumane practice, I was asked to keep my mouth shut,” Aman said. He added that the relentless abuse went largely unnoticed as only the entry time was recorded, and not the exit time, allowing the company to continue with the practice.
Aman filed a case against the company in Kuwait’s Labour Court, citing the ill-treatment. “However, everything was in Arabic and so I was not able to present my case effectively. Moreover, my lawyer secretly colluded with the company. I found that out only later. They kept giving me dates, but nothing moved forward,” Aman added.
‘I was assaulted’
Meanwhile, the company allegedly took action against Aman, asking him to vacate the room where he stayed. Aman said when he demanded to be issued end of service letter, the manager sent three men who “assaulted me and forcibly evicted me”. “I immediately filed a complaint with the Kuwaiti police, but the case is still ongoing,” Aman claimed.
The company allegedly made a “false absconding” case against Aman and deported him. “They made a case against me, stating that I was not performing my duties properly and had been at large,” the engineer said.
Now back in India, Aman pointed out that he approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). But his complaint is still pending. The man is apparently awaiting justice, which looks a far cry.
Aman claimed he had tried to wage a war against exploitation that several Indian workers face abroad, but now feels he is fighting a lost battle. “It’s an impossible legal battle. Workers are layman and company HR know how to exploit law and order with false and fabricated cases like fake absconding case to deport anyone who raise voice against violations of rights,” Aman said.