UAE: 400 workers in UAE get their dues after court intervenes
Summary
Date Reported: 21 Jan 2019
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
Al Wasita Emirates for Services & Catering (part of Wasita Group) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 400
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Catering & food services , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Egypt , Catering & food services , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Catering & food services , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Catering & food services , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nigeria , Catering & food services , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Philippines , Catering & food services , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Restricted mobility , Wage Theft , Freedom of MovementResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) intervened to dispatch a mobile court to the workers' accommodation, the company offered workers two options: to take 50% of their wages and a paid flight home, or to pursue the case via a labour court. Although many workers chose the former option, by April 2019 they were still awaiting wage payments and repatriation and were stranded in the UAE with many missing important family events.
Source type: News outlet
A labour dispute involving nearly 400 workers of a catering company was settled... thanks to the high-level involvement of labour officials, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) and diplomatic missions... The ADJD... deployed a mobile court to the workers' accommodation in Mussafah to expedite the resettlement of pending dues. According to statement released by the ADJD, authorities helped in paying Dh3 million in unpaid wages to 400 workers in Abu Dhabi by liquidating their employer's bank guarantee... The workers... spent weeks without food after some of the company owners fled the country. Water and electricity connection was also temporarily disconnected at their accommodation... [W]orkers were offered two options for settling the dispute. "They can take 50 per cent salary immediately along with air ticket and return to their countries within five days. Or they can pursue the case via the labour court and wait until the company can pay their full dues. Many workers are choosing the first option"... The ADJD confirmed that out of 400 workers, only 90 has opted to fight the case... According to officials, the labour dispute had started after the non-national partner in the company, as well as the executive directors, fled the country after misappropriation of large sums of money from the company. This resulted in financial issues and freezing of the company's funds under a judicial order...