INDIAN WORKERS IN US
Font Size 
Indian workers protest 'slave-like' treatment by US firm
Published on Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 19:42, Updated on Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 20:58 in World » World360 section
Tags: Indian Workers, Dennis Kucinich , Washington DC
Related Stories
Gujarat dry status an ideological hangover? 
- India dry, Pawar says well-stocked for 13 months | Drought diary
- Manmohan, Gilani fix up meeting without a date
- India puts it in writing: Pak planned 26/11
- Burger King apologises to Hindus for offensive ad
- SC takes up plea against gay sex, issues notice
- Suspected Dawood aide acquitted in fake currency case
- Another 'lover' arrested at Sania Mirza's house
- Mumbai, Pune and Delhi face 30-40 pc water shortage
- Politicos get into the ABC of Varun's Z-plus security
Photogallery
 |  |
Washington DC: Indian workers in the US are protesting against what they call modern-day slavery and they have a top American Congressman to support them. The workers want their employers convicted.
After a 29-day hunger strike, and protest rallies in Washington DC, the Indian workers have now won the backing of an influential lawmaker - Congressman and former Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.
The workers have accused their former employer Signal International of treating them like slaves and are now demanding that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecute the Mississippi-based firm.
"We want people in this country and around the world to know that we stand by the principal of law and justice and when we do that you will see justice delivered for these workers," Kucinich said.
In an effort led by Kucinich, 18 lawmakers have written to the DOJ to investigate the workers' fraud accusations and offer them protection as victims.
The Justice Department confirmed last week that it has opened an investigation.
The workers mostly welders and pipe-fitters walked off their jobs earlier this year saying that Signal International lured them into the country with false promises of a US Green Card in exchange for a $20000 fee.
The workers claim that instead the company mistreated them, often forcing 24 men to share one trailer and threatened them with deportation.
Former Signal International employee Paul S Konar said, "We came to live here. We are not criminals. Whoever came here on the H2B visa had to work like a slave."
Signal International has denied the charges. The firm instead blames its American and a Mumbai-based recruiting company Dewan Associates for misleading the workers.
The Indian government has already suspended Dewan Associates' license.
The workers in Washington DC are now demanding that the DOJ must allow them to stay in the US while it investigates Signal International.
| Ads by Google |
| Related Ads: | |
URBANEYE
Read Comment | Post Comment
Read more comment »