No water, no light, no wages for months for 100 workers

Dubai — A flicker of hope is what might help these workers stay put in their accommodation without light and water for the next two to three months. The hope of getting their unpaid salaries and a ticket to get back home has brought back a slight smile on their strained faces despite the fact that they are being forced to live in the dark and without water until they get the promised money. Five months after a court order was delivered in their favour, a group of around 100 workers are still waiting for their unpaid salaries and an air ticket each that can take them back home. The case dates back to mid last year when the electro-mechanical company they were working for allegedly shut down after it went bankrupt. A total of 190 workers were left stranded, without money, food and water in their accommodation in Sonapur. Of these, 30 used their own money and left the UAE for their homes but 160 others did not have the means to do so. The case was taken up by social workers and the Indian Consulate in Dubai after which a court ruling was passed in favour of the workers. The court passed an order in November last year to pay each worker a sum of Dh9,142 and a return ticket. On Thursday, giving hope to 60 others, a few workers were paid the promised sum. The workers all belong to different nationalities including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. In the next few days, the 60 will also be paid their dues. The remaining will have to wait for the next court order which is expected in the next 2-3 months. “It’s been a tough fight but the workers have been given what they deserve,” said T.R. Remesh, a social worker who has been helping the workers. “When we first came here, they used to cry. Now they are happy since the court verdict is hopeful. The only thing they want is water and electricity for a few days which was disconnected by the company owner,” said Remesh. The workers have sometimes used their own savings to buy water and gas, but their worries haven’t ended there. Families and loved ones back home have been left without food on their plate. “I have three dirhams in my pocket right now. How can I even go to court on a public bus?” asked Aleem, an Indian construction worker in his late 20s. Living without power and electricity since December, the workers share agonising tales of sleeping hungry and surviving without water for days on end. One of them even begged this reporter to help him get his mobile phone charged. “We just want water and electricity for one day. That’s all we want before flying back to our home country,” said the worker. They have been living off food supplies donated by social workers and good-hearted construction workers from other sites. And, they have run out of water since Thursday morning. “Each water tanker costs almost Dh700 and sometimes we pool in money from colleagues to help the workers. We don’t know how long we will be able to help them,” said Ramesh Mannath, another social worker who has been helping them with supplies. His colleagues at Sanipex, where Ramesh works, have collected money several times to buy water and gas to help the group of stranded workers. “My wife tells me to send some money whenever I manage to call her. I can find something to eat for myself but I am worried for my family,” said Shoman, a Bangladeshi worker. The camp boss says power was disconnected on December 21 and the situation has been grim since. “We can work in other companies but we have to be paid our dues first. It is what we earned by doing hard work and that’s why we want the money,” said Shaheen. Asked about how his mobile phone was recharged, he said he goes to the mosque whenever he wants to recharge his mobile phone. “If somebody doesn’t have money, we share our food, even if it is very little. Some of us don’t even have Dh10. We risk getting arrested by working odd jobs whenever we can,” said one of the workers who did not wish to be named. Jehangir, another worker at the accommodation said: “Three people have already got their compensation and we hope all of us will soon have money and tickets to go back.” Tejinder Singh, an Indian worker in his mid 40s, who used to work as an electrician for the company said hopelessness is almost coming to an end with the compensation in sight now. “Just give us light and water for one day. Sometimes we wake up and there is no water. We have to steal water or ask someone to help us. There have been times when I haven’t had a bath for three days.” Jahangir, Buchannai, Abu bakr and Aleem are not just names. They are all voices with a hope to return home soon. “I will come back and work for another company. It was just an unfortunate situation this time,” said Buchannai. The Ministry of Labour promised to pay a visit to the labour accomodation soon, an official told Khaleej Times. -Khaleej Times