Abu Dhabi: No major cases of Indian workers in distress have occurred in the UAE due to job losses caused by the impact of a regional financial downturn triggered by low oil prices, according to a top Indian diplomat.
“Unlike in some other Gulf countries, not many Indian workers have lost their jobs in the UAE. About two dozen cases of some workers of some small businesses have already been addressed by the embassy in coordination with the employers and the UAE authorities,” T.P Seetharam, the outgoing Indian Ambassador, told Gulf News in an interview on Wednesday.
He said most of the cases dealt by the embassy were of workers affected by the closure of small businesses employing between five and 15 workers.
Only one major case was of around 72 Indians in an Al Ruwais labour accommodation of an electromechanical company owned by an Indian, the envoy said. The embassy is following up their case with the UAE authorities and they will be repatriated soon in batches. The embassy will also provide them financial assistance, Seetharam said.
As Gulf News reported on July 17, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation had rushed to the rescue of around 150 workers, including Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis, who had not been paid for several months. The ministry encashed the company’s deposited bank guarantee, which was being used to settle the matter. The workers were given two options of either staying back here to find another job or return to their home countries. Most of them opted to go home and official procedures were progressing for the same, according to the ministry.
The ambassador said most of the workers of closed small businesses wanted to stay back in the UAE and find other jobs. The embassy provided them financial assistance at the rate of Dh40 per day up to a month and many of them found other jobs. Their sponsorship transfer was facilitated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which has always been cooperative and helpful to solve such cases, the envoy said.
This shows that even if some people are losing jobs, other employers are recruiting as well in the UAE, Seetharam said. “Our inquiries with 12 Indian schools in Abu Dhabi proved this point. We found that about 5,000 pupils applied for transfer certificates [probably after their parents lost their jobs] but 7,000 new pupils have applied for school seats in the current academic year.”
This shows that when some people are leaving, some more people are coming to the UAE to take up new jobs, he said.
About Indian workers who lost jobs and sought the embassy’s help to find new jobs, the envoy explained that the embassy has limitations to extend a daily financial allowance [Dh40] to such people beyond a month. “After a month we need approval from the Government of India. And people must also understand that the embassy cannot help them find a job.”
It is important to note that Indians come here by choice for better prospects. They have to accept the reality of living in a foreign land, Seetharam said.
He said India appreciates the fact that the UAE’s labour laws are in favour of workers, which help them solve any problem they face here.
