In March 2020, NGO Migrant Rights alleged a case of labour abuse and fraud against around 800 workers employed or recruited by Sea Bird Supermarket in Dubai, UAE. 800 workers, including 60 women, reported being stranded in Dubai. Some of the workers lacked access to food and all had paid large recruitment fees resulting in debts for many.
One worker alleged the case is likely to be a fraud case since the supermarket is unlikely to need such a large number of workers.
At the time of reporting, 25 of the workers were in urgent need of accommodation and food.
取られた措置: Workers complained to the police who told them it was a labour case; when they tried filing a labour complaint they were told as it was a fraud case the police would be responsible. The supermarket's owner stated that they had only recently acquired the business; they claimed responsibility lay with the previous owner.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reached out to invite Sea Bird Supermarket to comment on the allegations; it did not reply. In May 2020, Migrant Rights reported that the supermarket has since rebranded as Bluebird but the UAE Government has yet to resolve the issue.
Over 800 workers, including around 60 women, employed or recruited by Sea Bird Supermarket have been left stranded for more than a month in Dubai. All of them have paid... recruitment fees ('document fees') to the employer...
a worker representative says that the ordeal seems to be a case of outright recruitment fraud...
25 of these workers are in a dire state and require immediate help, as they have no food or accommodation... the police said this was a labour case. When they tried filing a labour complaint, they were told this was a fraud case and only the police would be able to deal with them.