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New management to solve problems of Fujairah company labourers

Fujairah - Workers go without salary, food for days; Indian Consulate steps in.

A Fujairah-based company has failed to pay salaries to 35 of its workers since the past five months and have also stopped providing them food. The Indian Consulate, on its part, has come out in support of these workers and is providing them food and other necessities.
"We came here to work and earn money to feed our families, but the company has made our lives miserable. We have not been getting our salaries since April this year and in March we were paid half the salary. They stopped giving us food since last week and we now we have been forced to vacate the rooms, too," said Raheem Afideen, a worker in the company.
Another worker, Vikram Totiji, from Telangana said he here to help his family tide out of a financial crisis. But today his situation is worse. "I don't have anything now and it's getting difficult by the day. I am helpless and just want to go back to my home with my dues."
The management of the company, Emirates Engineering, however, had a different story to tell. "It happened because of the change in ownership and management in the company. And we are trying to arrange all the dues of the workers," said Vivek Vijay, an official with the company who is also part of the new management.
He also claimed that he had had a meeting with the workers a few days ago. However, the workers have denied any such meeting.
According to a statement from the Indian Consulate, officials from the consulate accompanied by office bearers of the Indian Social Club, Fujairah, visited the accommodation of these workers. There are 32 Indians and three Bangladeshis in all. The company closed down the mess on August 29. However, inspection of the mess revealed that there are enough groceries for a week or 10 days.
Now, with interference by the Indian Consulate, gas connection has been restored and mess facilities have restarted. Electricity and water supply has not been disconnected, and arrangements are being made to supply more groceries to the accommodation.
The sponsor of the company was contacted and he was present at the accommodation along with the consulate officials. He has now promised all the help in cancelling the visas. Currently, lists of those who wish to return to India are being prepared. Their visas will be cancelled on priority and air tickets to India issued by the consulate.
Sreekumar, the old owner of the Emirates Engineering Company has also been contacted. He did not come to the labour accommodation, but he has been asked to present himself at the consulate for further discussions.
In an e-mail statement to Khaleej Times, Emirates Engineering has said that new management at the company is "financially fit" to solve the problems of the workers.
"Our labour accommodations are located at the Hamariah Freezone Ph.2, Dubai Investment Park and Al Qouz Industrial Area 3, and nearly 30 employees are staying in cabins near our head office in Fujairah. The company has already given instructions to vacate the space as the Ministry of Labour, Fujairah, visited the place three months ago and had reported that the accommodation was unfit for people to live. All of them have been provided alternate bed space but they are not cooperating with the company," the statement read.
"The new management is financially fit to resolve the issues relating to the pending dues of workers," the company added. "Now nearly 100 workers are on duty and the new management will do the needful to arrange all the dues as per the UAE Labour Law within one month for the remaining 30 workers." 
ankita@khaleejtimes.com