UAE: Employers using tourist visa scams to trap Indian migrants in abusive work
Summary
Date Reported: 15 Jan 2020
Location: United Arab Emirates
Other
Not Reported ( Retail ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - India , Retail , Gender not reported )Issues
Failing to renew visas , Contract Substitution , Intimidation , Restricted mobility , Wage Theft , Freedom of MovementResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: Local police in the worker's home state of Telangana arrested the recruitment agent responsible for fraud. They also launched awareness raising campaigns in villages. It was not reported whether the UAE employer was held responsible or not.
Source type: News outlet
"Tourist visa scam traps Indian migrants in abusive jobs in UAE," 15 Jan 2020
Exploitative employers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are increasingly using tourist visas to hire Indians in a scam that leaves migrants open to labor abuse...
“Employers and recruiters have colluded and invented this visit visa route,” said Bheem Reddy, president of the Emigrants Welfare Forum...
A demand for short-term workers ahead of big events such as Dubai’s Expo 2020 world fair in October has further fueled the scam, a United Nations official said...
visit visas are sold by hotels and airlines, giving workers no rights and freeing employers from all responsibility.