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29 March 2024

Homeless workers: Dubai court order in hand, no clue on dues

12 Indians and 3 Bangladeshis have not received any payment since September, 2011. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Sneha May Francis

The 15 workers who are fighting their company in a labour court over unpaid salaries are unsure if they should give up the fight or continue to make the rounds of the court until their final settlement is paid.

With the month-long stay in their temporary one-room accommodation coming to an end, the men are concerned about what they should do.

“Our local sponsor had told us that he would give us our passports and we can leave,” says worker Anil Kumar, “But, we decided to stay and fight because we want to be paid for our work.

“There is no point going home without taking our money.”

During the last hearing on July 26, the court has asked the labourers to come back after 15 days.

Although the court had earlier passed a verdict in their favour, ordering the company to pay amounts ranging from Dh21,000 to Dh30,000 to each worker depending on each individual case, it was stalled after the owner appealed against it.

Since then, the owner has travelled to India and hasn’t returned claiming he is stuck due to medical emergency.

“Many are advising us to take our passports (from the sponsor) and leave. They say there is no point in waiting,” says Anil.

As each day passes, the men are struggling to survive. Their food is being taken care of by a few local well-wishers.

The company had refused to pay them for nine months, with false promises that it would be sorted soon. But when the situation didn’t improve, the men approached the court.

The men, who have been moved out from their official accommodation in Al Quoz to a one-bed shelter in Satwa, are unsure if their persistence will work in their favour.

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