KM Exclusive More News

Worker Dies in Depression as Company Owners delay and deny Salary for Months

MUSCAT - Fifty years old Rajendran Pillai (from Kottiyam in Kollam Kerala) had a tragic end while sleeping in a make to shift labour camp of Bogest Company in the Ghala Industrial area, Oman. The worker died after serving a company as a mason for nine long years. The death is assumed to be due to a heart attack while he was in deep sleep. Three other workers were also sleeping in the same room. ""Rajendran died sometimes in the night after he went to sleep with mental depression.He has hree girls, two of them married off with the money earned in Gulf," said one of his co-work.Full Report

More Labour Related Stories from Muscat

One More Indian Worker of Labour Supply Company in Satwa Committs Suicide

by V.M.Sathish

Workers of Keith International marking their protest in Satwa. While 65 workers still want to leave the company after getting compensation, others are dilly dallying as it is a life and death question...

SATWA - December 14 2004 A couple of days after the Tamilian construction worker of Keith International LLC owned by a Malayali committed suicide, another Tamilian worker from a labour supply company in the same area was found dead in mysterious circumstances. According to sources, about five suicides have been reported from different parts of the city in one week, majority of them expatriate construction workers. Twenty four years old Selva Kumar from Pulankeri, Selam in Tamilnadu, the only son of his parents, who had been working as a helper for Metaly, a labour supply company which employs about 300 workers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other places, was found dead in his room within Villa Number 120 just behind the Al Saqwa Supermarket near the Satwa bus stand. Dubai Police and the Dubai Court Prosecutors have examined the body and suicide spot and they will find out what happened, said the company spokesman.

According to other residents of the villa, the deceased worker did not attend work on Monday and was alone in his room. The suicide is reportedly due to his helplessness to treat a disease, said to be stomach ulcer. Many companies, especially the labour supply companies, don't give proper medical care to workers and due to skyrocketing medical expenses, lack of leave even for medical purpose in Dubai, ordinary workers who earn around Dhs. 700 per month find it difficult to get affordable medical treatment. However, according to his co workers, Selva never complained of any major health problems either at work place or home. They are also unaware of any doctors that he was meeting. About 40 workers of the same company live in the same villa with several rooms.

"He had been working with the company for the last ten months as an Electrical helper. When we came back the room was not opening and after some futile efforts to open the window or door, a carpenter residing in the same villa opened the door. We found him hanging from the ceiling," said one co worker who shared the same room with him. "He committed suicide yesterday. He did not go to work. There is no payment with payment or other working conditions. We have been regularly paying salary to all the workers," said Titus, one of the Malayali partners who run the newly established labour supply company. The deceased worker was working in the Jabel Ali Free Zone as an electrical helper. According to his friends, like Venkatesh of Keith International who committed suicide after writing a long letter addressed to the Bur Dubai Police Station, Selva has also left a suicide note of one paper. He has written a detailed letter on two sides of the paper saying that he is ending his life on his own because he suffers from a stomach ulcer which could not treat properly due to financial trouble," said his friends. According to them he was normally gloomy and kept away from other friends. Most of the company workers came to Dubai about ten months back after paying huge amounts ranging from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.1.25 lakhs to visa agents. They were getting Dhs.700 plus over time from the company. "In the letter written in Tamil, he has revealed that he has been suffering from a stomach ulcer which could not treat properly or was ashamed about it," said a friend.

The celing used by Selvam to hang himself

An examination of the suicide spot shown by the workers indicates that he had removed a ceiling and used a wooden plank to hang himself. However, the ceiling appeared to be close to the double bed coat in which he used to sleep. The workers also gave vague statements that he had tied his face and perhaps hands before hanging himself. "We saw the dead body at about 6.30 and it was removed by the police at around 9 PM. The dead body is not yet send to Tamil Nadu," said the company official. They could not confirm whether the suicide was encouraged by similar death in an adjacent labour camp here.

From the workers statement, it appears that there was no payment problem in the company, but the some of the material situations that prompted Venkatesh to commit suicide existed in Medley too. The main reason attributed to the second suicide in the same locality within a span of four days is attributed to the poor and stressful working conditions and the lack of any effective mechanism to control stress among workers who face financial difficulties and psychological alienation. Workers find themselves in a difficult terrain when they reach an alien land leaving behind the moral and material support from their family members. 'Normally he works for ten days and take one off. He never told us about his ulcer or family," said one of his room mates. "I was here fully time on Monday and I went out and came back at about 6.30. As the door was locked I thought he must be sleeping inside the room. Normally on holidays workers take film CDs and watch movies. However, in the evening we could not open the room and the carpenter working for the same company opened the door using his tools," added the company representative. His uncle and other relatives were called and the body was removed. He was gloomy and never spoke much with other friends living in the same room," he added. "We came to know about the event in the night when police came to remove the dead body," said Mohammed Ali of a supermarket adjacent to the building. "It is mainly a labour camp area and we came to know about it only in the night," said another resident. (KM News)

KM Investigative Story

Expatriate Workers face harassment and robbery in Satwa

DUBAI September 26 2004 -Many expatriate residents of Satwa, an upper middle class residential pocket of Dubai, partially inhabited by poor construction workers have experienced the bitter taste of gangsterism and goondaism, which is not heard about in other parts of Dubai, a paradise for tourists from all over the world. Even when many local residents of Satwa are relocating to Jumeira and other emerging upper class residential areas, life in Satwa is becoming scary for many expatriates because of utter public nuisance created by gangs who attack pedestrians, especially the construction workers, who return home late after work in the night with knife and other weapons to extract money, mobile phones and other valuables. Full Report

Last Resort....A few meters long plastic rope and a ceiling fan is becoming the best escape route for many stressed and financially troubled Indian workers in the Gulf region. While the mainstream media is devoting their front pages to report sensational sex scandal stories of many prostitutes like Rejina, Sreedevi, etc, they are yet to report the case of Venkatesh who died in distress due to financial difficulties.....Watch this space.

Keith International Workers Continue to Abstain From Work

Attempt to Intimidate workers in Police Custody fails, Malayalam Media in Silent Mode about Workers Problems

DUBAI -December 11, 2004 Despite some intimidation tactics and sweet offers to settle the payment problem, workers of Keith International continued to abstain from work. The company officials have been busy engaged in damage control exercise by advising workers to desist from strike and withdraw complaints lodged with the labour department. "The company's senior Arab official came with a bag full of currency notes and advised the workers to withdraw the complaint lodged with the labour department. However, workers have expressed their disappointed with the cool approach of the Indian Consulate officials, the "N" number of Indian social clubs and associations and part of the Malayalam visual and print media. KM could not contact the company officials.

"We are thankful to Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Gulf Madhyamam and Kairali channel for reporting the death and highlight other serious problems facing 400 workers. The Indian Consulate has also been trying to impose a compromise formula," said one of the workers. "We have approached an advocate to present our case before the Consulate and the labour department. However, when the lawyer approached the Consulate General office, she was bluntly told that there is no such case handled by the Embassy," added workers. "When she came back we send five of the workers, who met the officials. They wanted us to accept a compromise solution and resume work after withdrawing the complaints. However, we don't want to enter into such arrangements," the workers added.
The company offered to pay the pending salary and address other problems. The pending salary of the worker who committed suicide will be given and compensation package will be finalized after discussing with the company official. There is a new face in the company as efforts are on to save the face of the Malayali VIP who has been heading the companies.

Meanwhile, the company officials have been trying to silence workers through a carrot and stick policy. "Three of the workers who were invited to the Consulate General were taken to the Bur Dubai police station in the evening after they came back from the Consulate. We were worried that some false cases might be filed against them. However, the Bur Dubai Police officials were very good people who did not succumb to the company official's request to put them behind bars," added workers. "We understood that the secret plan was to put three workers inside the prison so that others will resume work next day and withdraw the complaints," they added. However, the police officials refused to accept such arguments as it is a labour case. They were released and there was no problem, workers added.

Meanwhile, the company informed the family of Venkatesh about his death only recently and his ailing parents have been hospitalized. They were shocked to hear news about the tragic death of their only son, said workers. The postmortem is likely to be conducted and dead body to be send home soon. It is also said that the main company official, a well known Malayali businessman, may be nabbed by the law enforcement authorities as the case is sensitive. According to UAE rules, encouraging someone to commit suicide is a criminal offense which is handled seriously. Apart from the harassment issues and non payment of salary, the written statement by the deceased is strong evidence that the worker had no other option but to end his life. "We have taken copy of the letter as a strong proof against the company," added workers.

Dubai based English Papers Give Extensive Coverage to Suicide Case

Malayalam Media in Silent Mode

DUBAI - December 11, 2004 Even as hundreds of workers including about 25 Malayalis were clamouring for help and media support to highlight their grave problems and the suicide case, many of the mainstream Malayalam Newspapers, radio stations and Television Channels were functioning as if nothing serious has happened. Despite the fact that almost all the leading journalists were aware of the suicide and related problems in Keith International, most of them were apparently busy with the gala final desert party of the Dubai International Film Festival or other routine stuff. While journalists some journalists shed crocodiles tear about problems facing ordinary folks, especially the Malayali workers, many eminent Malayali personalities including some journalists were busy trying to stop the press. While every editor/journalist has his own reasoning for writing or not writing a story, there are some basic human and professional values which cannot be ignored at any cost.

Ever since the company officials got a hint that some stories about the workers problem will be appearing in the leading English and Malayalam newspapers, mobile phones of leading Malayali VIPs from social clubs and media organizations were busy calling up journalists who were working on the story. While a leading social organization affiliated to the Indian Overseas Congress was busy calling up "friends" in the media, requesting not to report the story, another leading comrade from a leading Malayalam channel associated with the workers party was busy trying to influence "close friends" of journalists to stop the press. While KM was the first medium to report the story, Gulf Madhyamam was the only Malayalam Newspaper from the Gulf which gave an eight column story with two photographs of the deceased worker and agitated workers. True to its bold style of reporting, Gulf Madhyamam has once again scored over rival newspapers. Malayalam News also found space for a single column story and a photograph of the worker who committed suicide.

As usual the two leading English newspapers from Dubai, the Gulf News and Khaleej Times, devoted more than half of page number 4 for telling the tragic story of Venkatesh and Keith International in detail. While Gulf News edited by a European has send an Arab lady reporter Mona Ahmed and photographer Asghar Khan to the labour camp in Satwa to report the story extensively with photographs of the worker and the ceiling fan used by the worker to hang himself, Prerana Suri of Khaleej Times devoted half of the page and two photographs to tell the real story. Khaleej Times too is edited by an Arab journalist. Leading English dailies, including the one edited by a senior Malayali too did not cover the story for unknown reasons. It appears that there was some sort of polarization between Malayali and non Malayali journalists. If the newspaper coverage and cover up of the suicide is any indication, Malayali journalists, except a handful, were either "silenced" for not reporting the story. The fact that both the English dailies gave wide coverage to the story indicates the human interest and media interest in the suicide case. Gulf News has been doing a commendable job in hilighting labour problems facing the expatriate workers in Dubai.

"…Please don't write the story which will create serious problems for our Malayali friend who is liberal in funding our programmes. A close family friend told me that I am in close contact with Mr…(journalists name withheld) and Mr…is keen to meet you personally. If you don't write the story, he will come and meet you in the afternoon," said the office bearer of the overseas wing of a leading ruling political party in Karala. He also heads a leading cultural association. Apparently such frantic calls reached many journalists in town who were planning to report the case. For associations which get a share of the profit made by such companies squeezing ordinary workers, there is no reason to cry for the ordinary folks.

While Kairali Channel is the only one to report the suicide case on Saturday, other leading channel has remained in silent mode. "Many people were apprehensive about Kairali channel and it's so called connection to Keith International. We have reported the story in the main news programme and there is no reason to doubt our integrity," said a channel representative. However, another non-journalist staff of the channel was busy engaged in covering up the story in other media. "Many people have taken slot in Kairali channel and used our name to promote themselves. It has really ruined our reputation in the market," added Kairali source. A senior Malayali journalist from a Dubai based English newspaper advised friends in the media, either not to report the story or carry it without mentioning the name of the Malayali VIP or the company name. The leading Malayalam paper too missed or covered up the suicide story.

Many new Newspaper from Kerala which are trying to capture the heart of Gulf based Malayali readers with special pages devoted exclusively for news related to Gulf Malayalis "conveniently" miss such stories. For the journalists who reported the story, the only award was a telephone call from the suffering workers who said "thank You Sir. We expect your continued support."

Labour Supply Company Workers Agitated Over Death of Colleague

Bernard Company's refusal to pay advance of Dhs.20 provokes worker to commit suicide, Co

DUBAI -December 11, 2004 More than 300 workers of a labour supply company are sad and anguish about the poor working conditions highlighted by the death of a colleague apparently due to suicide provoked by the nonpayment of salary. According to the agitated workers, A Venkatesh, an electrician who hails from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was suffering from financial difficulties caused by the delay in getting wages for five months. According to workers, two days back on November 9th, Venkatesh who was reportedly suffering from headache was found dead hanging from the ceiling fan of Room No 6 in the company's labour accommodation building located near Jafilia, Satwa. When contacted, Charles, a company staff said he is not aware of the death and not all workers are striking. "We have about 400 workers and not all of them are striking work," he said. A section of workers said they have no problem with the company and payment delay is not a big issue for them. Even though the company spokesman promised to return the call, this correspondent did not receive any statements. The group has three companies and one recruitment firm was closed down due to labour problems. More

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. Full Report

RITES AND IRCON’S JOINT VENTURE TAKES OVER RAILWAYS IN MOZAMBIQUE

RITES and IRCON led Joint Venture Company – Companhia Dos Caminhos De Ferro Da Beira, S.A.R.L. (CCFB) has taken over the Biera Rail corridor from CFM (a parastatal company operating railways in Mozambique). CCFB has been incorporated in Mozambique for implementation of Beira Rail corridor concession. RITES and IRCON hold controlling interest of 51 per cent, consisting of 26 per cent and 25 per cent respectively and the balance 49 per cent shares are held by the Government of Mozambique through CFM. In May, 2004, consortium of RITES and IRCON won Beira Rail Corridor concession project in Mozambique against international competition and stiff challenge from Chinese consortium in particular.

The concession entails the rehabilitation of the civil war ravaged railway system in Mozambique, fix and collect tariff for services rendered and run it for 25 years. Mozambique is the second country after Colombia where RITES will be a partner in a railway concession. The Beira Rail Concession involves investment of US$ 152 million of which US $ 104.50 million will be funded through credit provided by IDA, the soft loan arm of World Bank. The balance funding will be through the equity of shareholders and the commercial borrowings. The scope of concession involves rehabilitation, operation, maintenance, management and future development of Beira Rail Corridor at risks and cost of the CCFB. The Concession period is 25 years from the date of takeover of railway system.

Beira Rail Corridor is one of the three rail corridors of Mozambique, which serves both domestic and international transit traffic. Rail network under this corridor takes off from Beira Port, which is located on Central Mozambique. It has two railway lines Machinpanda line of 317 kilometre length in westernly direction connecting Beira to railways of Zimbabwe. The other line called Sena line moves in North and North-westernly direction and ends at Moatize coal mines. This line provides connectivity to Malawi Railways. The Sena line was closed in 1983 due to insurgency and civil war in the country. After rehabilitation of Sena line, the coal mines would be re-opened and export of coal resumed through Beira Port.

Bahrain simplifies immigration process with e-visa Travel developments to be discussed at first Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

(Dubai, December 2004): Streamlined visa processes in Arabia are essential to stimulate visitor figures, according to one government tourism official, who said that online visa application facilities have proved highly successful since their recent introduction.Bader Nasser, head of marketing for tourism affairs for the government of Bahrain, highlighted the Kingdom?s e-visa initiative as a ?necessary measure? if the drive for fast and seamless immigration processes for business and leisure travellers is to be met.

The Bahrain e-visa project ? a first for the Middle East and one of only a handful in the world ? comes as the topic of visa restrictions comes under the spotlight at the first-ever Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, to be held in Dubai on April 30 ? May 2.

Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East and one of the only countries in the world to issue online visit visas to simplify ? and ?fast track? - its immigration processes. To date, an average of 1,500 visas are downloaded a month, with numbers expected to double during the next 12 months. The e-visa initiative is the first phase of a drive to move all of Bahrain?s immigration processes online.

Nasser said: ?For too long, the issue of visas in Arabia has blighted the attempts of the tourism authorities especially to stimulate visitor numbers. We are pioneering the switch to e-visas as part of our strategy to become a tourism destination of the future.?Residents of 33 countries outside the GCC can apply online at www.evisa.gov.bh, allowing them to download their visit visa anywhere in the world before travelling to the Kingdom. Those able to take advantage of these facilities include UK, US, Australia and most European passport-holders.

Nasser said: ?While the ideal scenario is still a single visa for Arabia to facilitate travel between the Gulf states, we have to look at new and innovative ways to make the immigration process as smooth and simple as possible for international visitors.?

The visit visas are valid for two weeks for a fee of BD7 (US$18.50) enabling travellers to fast-track the arrival process in Bahrain by completing the visa process ahead of time rather than on arrival. In addition, the downloaded visa removes the need to pay in local currency.

Jonathan Worsley, organiser of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, said: ?The issue of one visa for Arabia has already been tabled for discussion at the conference next year. Indeed, the majority of our advisory panel of 50 regional tourism leaders identified visa restrictions as a challenge in this marketplace.

?This initiative from Bahrain has shown how governments can harness technology to improve efficiency and therefore service, which is another discussion that has been scheduled for AHIC.?

This advisory panel includes among others: Zaher El Ajjaoui from the Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House; Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels and Resorts; Wahid Attala, executive director of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff, CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World Travel & Tourism Council; and regional directors from international hotel groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana.

The conference is set to attract more than 300 delegates to discuss topics as broad-ranging as environmental and sustainable tourism to real estate issues, investment and industry trends, supply / demand dynamics and security issues.

The event will run from April 30 to May 2, 2005 at the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai, setting the scene for the region?s largest dedicated travel exhibition, Arabian Travel Market, which opens on May 3. The conference is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, and MEED Conferences. Details of AHIC can be found on www.arabianconference.com.

Already signed up as platinum sponsors are: IFA Hotels and Resorts; Nakheel Company LLC; Kingdom Hotel Investments and Rezidor SAS Hospitality.

Gold sponsors are: Arabian Travel Market; Deloitte; Gullivers Travel Associates; HVS International; Jones Lang LaSalle; Jumeirah International; Intercontinental Hotels Group; Marriott International; Movenpick Hotels & Resorts; RCI Middle East; Octopus Travel; RSP Group and Strategic Solutions.Media sponsors are: AME Info, CNBC Arabia, CNBC Europe, Global Hospitality Resources, HOTELS and TTN.Supporters are: Dubai Convention Bureau, Emirates Academy of Hospitality; International Hotel & Restaurant Association; Villeroy & Boch; the World Travel & Tourism Council and WOW Travels.