This is to lodge my complain against Global Steel Holdings Ltd. As an ex-employee. I joined the company’s Mumbai Office on 5th Feb 2009. The Chief of HR in Mumbai, Mr. Pradeep Pandey misguided me completely by assuring that the salaries would be paid every month on the due dates regularly. Earlier I had refused to join as I had heard that the company has not been paying the salaries regularly and employees have not been paid for 7-8 months. Based on Mr. Pradeep Pandey’s assurance I joined their Mumbai Office.

In Mumbai they kept me waiting till 21st Feb 2009 as they were arranging my Visa. They had kept me in a nearby Hotel.

After I reached Libya, their GM – HR, Subhas Jadhav took away my Passport saying that this is the regulation. Later on I came to know that I would not be allowed to even inform Embassy of India about my arrival.

The company refused to pay my salary for about 3 months. I kept on asking for my salary regularly to GM-HR and even I approached the CEO Mr. Katyal in the last week of March informing that I am not comfortable with this kind of treatment of not paying the salary. My family was in bad condition as I could not support them. I was stressed heavily as no one, neither Subhas Jadhav nor Katyal helped me in getting my salary. Finally my health condition started deteriorating and I became extremely week.

All the terms and conditions of the contract of paying me salary were violated by them. When I used to approach Subhas Jadhav, he used to laugh.

I was admitted in the hospital. They paid me one month’s salary at the end of April’2009 i.e. almost after 3 months I got only one month’s salary.

Finally I resigned in first week of May asking the company to release me. Subhas Jadhav then started talking about the terms of the appointment which in fact had become null and void as it was them who violated the terms of not making timely payment of salary.

I was asked to first deposit three months notice pay and then only I would be given my passport back and then only I would be allowed to leave. I was also informed that the expenses incurred in Hotel and in travelling to Libya also has to be paid my me to them. Against my three month’s work, I was forced to pay them three months salary and travelling and other expenses. There was no such condition mentioned in the appointment letter. I was told that they are not supposed to inform the employee about all the conditions.

I was completely in their clutches and in order to get my passport back and to leave, they forcibly recovered US$10992. I became sick and at some point of time, I started thinking that I will never be able to see my family.

I also wrote to LISCO but they also never responded.

I am claiming my US$10992 which was wrongfully deducted ( The appointment letter’s terms and conditions became null and void once the company refused to pay salary in time ) and US$ 50000 towards compensation for the stress developed because of them. The amount of US$10992 includes staying charges in the Hotel in Mumbai and airfare from Mumbai to Libya.

K.K. Agrawal,