Gulf based Labour Supply Companies Squeeze Expatriate Workers

Bernard Raju's labourers complaint of slavery

DUBAI - Labour supply is a lucrative business for many prominent Malayalis who specialize in rampant exploitation by squeezing out maximum profit from it by giving marginal salary to workers and pocketing major chunk of their daily earning. While major companies give to labour companies' upto Dhs. 13 per hour, the worker gets Dhs. 4 and sometimes Dhs.5. He came to Dubai on 27 November 2003 as an electrician, but was given work as a helper and paid just Dhs.4 per hour. For major companies, putting permanent workers on the payroll is a big liability due to the standard facilities stipulated by the UAE labour rules. In order to circumvent such visa problems, many big companies (construction, maintenance and hotels) subscribe to the labour supply companies. Even though there are only a few licensed companies which are allowed to do engage in labour supply, a chain of authorized and unauthorized labour suppliers, is created. Keith International LLC, with about 400 workers, is just one of the companies that engage in labour supply to prestigious clients. Like many other manpower and womanpower supply companies, this too is headed by a prominent Malayali Bernard Raju whose name is well known in the entertainment and media sectors of UAE. Workers said he is a well known name in organising stage shows and other celebrity events in Dubai. He has also been engaged in running some special programmes in Kairali TV, one of the most popular TV channels from Kerala. There are three labour camps in Satwa and other places. One company was earlier closed due to similar problems. BESCO another company run by the same owner was closed down and the owner was reported bankrupt, said workers.

Treatment like Slaves.

Majority of workers in all the camps said they faced problems with payment and the company's ill treatment. A note, supposed to be a suicide letter, written by Venkatesh from Penadam, Kodalloor district of Tamil Nadu, has clearly said that even though he was respected as a human being in his native village, the company officials were treating him like a slave. "Whenever I fall sick, my mother or sisters used to take care of me. Here I was sick and the company was not even willing to give Dhs.20 to buy medicine," said the letter. Venkatesh was one of the bold workers who raised voice against such problems. He complained to the Bur Dubai police station about non payment of salary and his serious financial problems. However, the police could not do much, workers said. "Those who complain or raise their voice are harassed, physically assaulted, send to jail and sacked. Those who run away from the company due to any reasons including non payment of salary are searched and brought back to be physically abused, added another worker.

There were at least three strikes recently and in one instance, the company owners agreed to pay salary under the mediation of Bur Dubai Police station, but did not comply with the agreement. Similarly, when salary was given to the workers after a strike, it was denied for those who were in the forefront. One Malayali was working in Abu Dhabi when the company received a message from his relatives about the death of his father. However, the company did not give the message. Another agitated worker was handled by six goons. In some cases, other workers protested and police was called to the Satwa camp. One worker fell down from a building and was not taken to the hospital for treatment. "H had a swelling on my legs, but they refused to take him to the hospital. Only after three days when it became serious did the company took him to the hospital. Every worker has to give Dhs.200 to Dhs.220 for the mess in adjacent hotels. Each worker is allotted only one bucket of water for daily use and if they exceed the quota, the camp house will charge additional money. Even during summer, air conditioner in vehicles transporting the workers is not allowed to be on.

Normally there are two keys to the room and is left at the camp house. It is not sure whether the camp house has access to all the rooms. One workers said he came back from work at noon (between 1 to 2) the room but could not enter the room because it was locked from inside and he says both the keys were inside. Light was closed and the dead body was hanging from the ceiling fan. Apparently he used a chair to get up and tie the plastic rope around his neck and pulled the chair. An examination of the small room revealed that there were three double ducker iron beds and Venkatesh was using the top berth of the coat facing the door. The room is small and there is hardly any free space, except below the fan and it is likely that you will hit any of the three coats. Like other workers who bought visas for Rs.1 lakh, Venkatesh pledged his farm and other property to take a loan from the rural Shylocks at very high rate of interest. Sundar and Palani Velu, two rural recruiting agents from Pennadam have taken this huge money for the visa. In the suicide note he has advised his father and in law to approach them and recover the money.

Unfulfilled Dreams

He wanted to buy Sarees for his mother and sisters and clothes for kids in the family. He has requested some of his close friends to fulfill his unfulfilled desire, when they go for leave. He has also advised his friends to inform his friends in the ITI in Tamil Nadu about his death. He has also send copy of his complaint to the police station in India.

The letter said Keith International Group company is responsible for his death and other workers should claim compensation for his death and help his poor family. Another request to his co workers is to raise Rs.40,000 to help his family to buy a small farm in his village and start cultivation. He had promised to reach home after one year, but could not do so due to the difficult situation in Dubai. The company is responsible for my death and they have not given me Dhs.50. As they are not paying salary, the workers went on strike. On 10 November 2004, they agreed to pay one salary and the second salary on 25th November. Back home when I had some disease, my mother, sisters and father took care of me. Here in Dubai, I did not get any help from the company. I have been working as a slave of the company. I am leaving my lovely mother, sisters, brother and other relatives. "While traveling to Dubai, I could not see my mother. I wanted to go back and sleep on her lap. I will do it in my next birth. My death will shock my friends, but they should take it as an incident to liberate from these problems. They should come together and help my family get compensation for my death which should cover all the expenses involved in studying electrician, money paid to the visa agents. In Dubai I have been living in a "prison" without any freedom. If we raise our voice, they will harass us. Last one week I have cold and head ache, and the company did not give me even Dhs.20 to buy medicines. I left my home after paying Rs.75,000 and the money was taken as loan at high interest rate, but the company was not giving me even Dhs.50.

Ten workers went to the labour department and the Indian consulate. They were told to write a complaint in Arabic, but the company's PRO has apparently changed the content of the letter. They went to the Indian Consulate. Five of the workers who complained to the labour department are advised to reach the labour court in the morning. Many workers are keeping away because it is not sure whether the workers without visa and labour card will be caught. They have also approached an advocate. About 250 workers have already signed, said one of them.

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