UAE: Indian and Bangladeshi construction workers face withheld wages stretching back 10 months
Summary
Date Reported: 3 Apr 2019
Location: United Arab Emirates
Other
Not Reported ( Construction ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 900
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Failing to renew visas , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: Some workers filed a complaint with the labour court in the UAE in 2018 but were still waiting for the case to be resolved several months later in April 2019. The Indian and Bangaldesh consulates were working with the Labour Ministry to convince the company to pay wages so that workers could return home. One official in Dubai reported that one option being considered was to order the the company to pay workers from the security deposits it pays when hiring each employee.
Source type: News outlet
"Dubai construction workers pursue employer over 10 months unpaid wages", 3 Apr 2019
Indian and Bangladeshi construction workers are pursuing their employer for unpaid wages... 900 men living in company accommodation in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah appealed to officials... The Indian consulate and the Bangladesh embassy have been working with labour ministry officials to convince the company to make the payments so the workers can return home... The firm claims it does not have the money to pay... The government has warned companies it will cancel work permits... if they fail to pay and encourage workers to report late wages to the authorities... "We filed a case in April"... said SK, an Indian carpenter who filed a legal case against the company last year along with at least nine others. Like many of the workers, his visa and emirates identity card has expired.