2 days to living on Dubai’s roads for 15 unpaid labourers

Each day seems to bring a new challenge for the 15 labourers embroiled in a labour dispute with their company.

After running from court to consulate and back, the clock has been ticking on their lives for the last two weeks.

Now, another deadline nears.

The 15 labourers have two more days till their month-long lease on the one-room accommodation in Satwa where they have been staying ends.

“By tomorrow evening if no one comes forward to pay our rent, we will have to vacate this room,” confirms Anil Kumar, who along with his 14 co-workers is spearheading the fight to claim their unpaid dues.

Their local sponsor, who had paid for their current stay in Satwa, after their employers refused to renew their official accommodation in Al Quoz, could not be reached for comment.

The men even contacted an officer at the company seeking help. “When I called the office, the owner’s brother-in-law said he didn’t have any money at the moment but claimed that he would try to help us renew our rent for this place.”

The Indian Consulate has been in touch with the workers after this website escalated the case.

The owner of the company is in India and claims he cannot return due to a medical emergency.

It’s not only their rent, but their food that is also of concern. Right now the men eat whenever they are provided with meals by local well-wishers.

“We eat only when someone donates food packets, or else we go hungry. Many have given us rice packets, which is helpful. Some have also given us money to buy vegetables.”

In fact, they didn’t even have enough to afford a bus fare. “When we went to the court last week, we had to walk all the way because we didn’t have any money to buy a bus ticket. It took us nearly two hours to walk the 14km distance from Satwa to the labour court.”

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