Dubai: The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai has warned Indian nationals against taking up seafaring jobs offered by unscrupulous agents who are not registered with the authorities.
The CGI recently issued the advisory following the rising number of seafarer complaints regarding non-payment of salaries, poor working conditions, lack of food, water and bunker (fuel), delays in sign-off and no proper medical care.
The advisory has specifically named 18 vessels which the seafarers should guard against, with details of the companies, owners and agents, spelt out on its website.
As many as 97 Indian sailors, who were stranded aboard 22 ships in UAE waters in June, had sought the help of the consulate. The mission subsequently contacted shipowners and agents for settlement of dues, provision of food, water and fuel. It also helped repatriate 36 sailors from six ships and 13 others from a gutted vessel earlier.
Due diligence
The seafarers were advised to do due diligence before accepting job offers and get in touch with the authorities if something goes wrong. In another advisory, the mission urged jobseekers to take the legal route to employment.
The advisory said they should receive a standard offer letter registered by a company and generated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation as it spelt out the salary and company details before issuing entry permits or visas. The offer letter can be demanded by the job-seeker and checked at https://eservices.mol.gov.ae/molforms/offerinquiry.aspx by filling in the search criteria. Dubai visa details can be verified at www.amer.ae. For other emirates, go to https://www.moifawri.ae/Responsive/Modules/VisaManagement/VisaInquiry.aspx.
https://www.moifawri.ae/Responsive/Modules/VisaManagement/VisaInquiry.aspx.
