Eleven migrant workers from Jharkhand’s Giridih, Hazaribagh, and Bokaro districts returned home on February 13, 2026. They had been stuck in Dubai due to unpaid wages while working for EMC Electromechanical Co. LLC. The workers left Dubai after a government-assisted agreement. Social activist Sikandar Ali received them at Kolkata airport on February 11. From Kolkata, they took trains back to their districts on February 12. The workers thanked the State and Central Governments, media, and Mr. Ali for their help. The returning workers include Rajesh Mahato, Ajay Kumar Mahato (Giridih), Daleshwar Mahato (Bokaro), and Jageshwar Mahato, Baijnath Mahato, Dilip Mahato, Gangadhar Mahato, Triloki Mahato, Deepak Kumar, Rohit Mahato, and Seva Mahato (Hazaribagh). Three workers—Roshan Kumar, Ajay Kumar (both from Giridih), and Falendra Mahato (Hazaribagh)—chose to stay back. Shikha Lakra, head of the State Migrant Workers Control Room, said they coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Consulate in Dubai. The workers were supposed to serve a three-month notice period but the company agreed to one month instead. The company covered visa charges and transport costs to Abu Dhabi, but the workers paid for their air tickets to India. Workers had stopped work due to unpaid salaries and complained about forced overtime, poor accommodation, and food. Their passports were initially seized by the company. On February 2, they sent a video appeal to Mr. Ali, who shared it on social media to ask the Jharkhand government for help. Ajay Kumar Mahato told The Hindu, "Had we had better earning opportunities available in our own state, we would not need to go to other places." Mr. Ali added, "Many such incidents occur, which are extremely painful. Despite their reluctance, people are forced to leave their homes to earn a livelihood. The government needs to take concrete steps in this direction." The return process took less than two weeks, making it the fastest migrant worker repatriation from Dubai for Jharkhand.