In response to a distress letter received from Mr. Jinlakpou and Mrs. Salie, a husband and wife brought from Nagaland to work at Kerela Corner Hotel in Tambaram, Chennai, urgent intervention was initiated. The couple had been promised weekly wages but were consistently denied payment for three weeks when they demanded their rightful earnings. This non-payment issue had also affected several other staff members who had left without receiving their dues.

Efforts were made to engage with Mr. Valli Chithi, the hotel owner, to address the reasons behind the delayed payments. During extensive discussions, Mr. Chithi initially evaded responsibility and even threatened legal action when pressed about the couple’s wages. It was revealed that the owner had deliberately withheld their salaries upon learning of their intention to resign due to discrepancies in working hours. The couple had been misled during recruitment about their expected working hours, which were supposed to be 10 hours but were enforced as 12 hours daily.

After hours of negotiation and mediation, Mr. Chithi reluctantly agreed to settle their pending wages and allowed them to resign from their positions. As of June 25, 2024, the matter was fully resolved, and the couple has since secured employment at Biryani Center, Adyar, Chennai.

This incident underscores the vulnerability of migrant workers to exploitation and the critical importance of enforcing labor rights and ethical recruitment practices. Documentation supporting this case includes the initial letter received on June 23, 2024, detailing the grievances, and subsequent communications confirming the resolution.

Moving forward, continued vigilance and proactive measures are necessary to protect the rights and dignity of all workers, ensuring fair treatment and timely payment of wages in accordance with legal standards.