iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Stolen material was also sent to media organisations, say agencies
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Stranded workers' misery grows
SHARJAH - The 21 stranded Sri Lankan workers of Moon Garments continue to live in misery without money, water, electricity, and depleting food provision, in the hope the local authorities in Sharjah will take strict action against the factory owner, and help ease their sufferings facilitating quick repatriation to Colombo.
"There is no power in our rooms, and now no water from last three days,” said a group of workers who were visiting the Sri Lankan Consulate in Dubai to press for their repatriation home.
"We are forced to sleep in the open because our rooms are like furnace without electricity. The heat is unbearable and two of our colleagues had fainted last night due to excessive heat and humidity," the girls complained to the Consulate officials.
Dayani, Renuka, Pushpa and Neelu representing the stranded Sri Lankan workers expressed fear of falling sick under such inhumane living condition. "We have no money for a doctor's visit in case we fall sick and need any medical assistance, the girls said, afraid they will have to leave the UAE without any money whatsoever. "But, we cannot think of going home without any money."
The agreed amount of Dh1, 000 by the factory owner as final settlement seems unlikely to come through, the workers said, disclosing that the owner has stopped visiting the factory premises for a long time now and is reportedly absconding.
"Even the Sharjah Police has been unable to nab him, after a complaint was filed against him by the Sri Lankan Consulate. But his brother is around and we cannot understand why his whereabouts cannot be traced."
"How long can we live in such misery? Currently, there is not a drop of water available for drinking or washing on the factory premises after the electricity and water was disconnected due to non-payment of the bill by the factory owner. We are simply managing by fetching buckets of water from adjoining factories and commercial establishments in the area," the workers disclosed.
The girls, who refused to register their complaint at the labour court simply because of the fear of delay in their repatriation, said, "We cannot live here anymore and simply want to return home soon with our dues. "I feel so helpless. My father died recently and I was unable to go home," said Pushpa, who, like the other girls, has not visited home since she arrived in the UAE three and a half years ago.
While Neelu's ailing parents are in a shock after reading about their plight in a Colombo daily. And for Dayani and Renuka, it has been over three years since they saw their children.
"The Sri Lankan Consulate has been extending all assistance to us.
"But, now we just want them to help send us home soon with our dues," the workers said, vowing never to return and work for a garment factory.
The Moon Garments factory in Sharjah closed down in May 2004, leaving hundreds of its workers stranded.
While many left the country or decided to work elsewhere, a group of 21 workers continue to stay on the factory accommodation in the hope of receiving their dues from the owner, or the local sponsor, and returning home soon.
More news from World
Influential Teamsters union says it won't endorse a presidential candidate in 2024
Across the world's largest cities, WRI estimates the longest heatwave each year could last 16.3 days on average under a 1.5°C scenario, but 24.5 days at 3°C
The move aims at taming record immigration levels that pushed country's population past 41 million earlier this year
Wickremesinghe, Premadasa, and Dissanayake are the main contenders for the post
His visit to Cairo aimed to salvage stalled negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to end the conflict
Hundreds of pagers belonging to the armed group exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday, killed 12 people, including two children, and wounded up to 2,800 others
Over a week ago, India had reported its first case in a man who had arrived from western Africa in Delhi