Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Kuwait: Indian worker dies, colleagues agitate

October 14, 2006 18:54 IST

Rebellious workers are refusing to release the body of an Indian, who died in a squalid camp housing 1,300 labourers held captive by an influential contracting company in Kuwait.

Bino Stephen died on Friday in the desert camp, where men hailing from India, the Philippines and Egypt are being held.

No government action has been forthcoming, despite media reports on the appalling living conditions in the camp.

"We want to find a solution to our dreadful situation by having our living conditions improved or have us repatriated back home," said Mohammed, one of the workers.

Four other inmates have been ill since last week because of suspected malaria and the water supply is unfit for human consumption.

An official of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour told the Kuwait Times that the death of one person in the camp could not be termed 'a disaster'.

Source: source image