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1,600 Arab workers to complain against sponsor

ABU DHABI - More than 1,600 workers, including 400 women, will lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs today against their sponsor for violating the terms of specified in the labour contract.

The frustrated Egyptian workers, employed with a big maintenance and cleaning establishment in the capital, are complaining of bad living conditions, poor health services and a lack of allowances, which are contrary to the terms mentioned in their labour contracts.

The company also has 10,000 other Asian workers, mainly Indians.

The labourers, who are mostly degree holders and lawyers, were employed through the Egypt-based International Co-operation Bureau for the Recruitment of Workers Abroad, after they paid 10,000 Egyptian pounds to obtain an initial labour contract in the private sector firm in the capital.

The sponsor lodged a complain with the police against them on Sunday, claiming that the workers had gone on strike without reasons and should, therefore, resume work.

"The police have discovered that the contract was fake and did not carry the original signature of the workers," said one of the employees.

"The sponsor has refused to pay us the salary stated in the contract, imposed unfair deduction on our wages and deprived us of our part time dues.

"As per the contract, we were supposed to get around Dh1300-Dh 1500, but instead we are paid only Dh650 and the manager deducts Dh75 every month. Transport, health service and accommodation allowances are also mentioned in the contract. The company provides us with a miserable accommodation, while transport and medical services are not available," he said.

Over the past two months, the workers have been trying to settle the issue amicably and convince the senior managers at the company to pay them their dues, but their efforts have been in vain, he said.