DUBAI // Hundreds of workers remain stranded in Dubai nearly a month after the owner of their company absconded to India owing them five months' salary.
The Indian businessman, Joseph D'Souza, fled last month after his businesses failed.
He founded the steel fabrication and engineering firm, Systems Engineering, with offices in Sharjah and Dubai, in 1997, and employed 400 men from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as helpers, welders and steel fixers.
The situation has left many depressed and worried about their future. One labourer suffered a nervous breakdown after the company went under. Laila Abubakr, a social worker, from the Overseas Resident Malayalee Association in Dubai said that the man was now in a stable condition.
Mrs Abubakr said only 200 of the 400 workers had been repatriated.
"Consulates representing workers' countries are giving free tickets for the men to be sent home," she added. "We hope in a week or two all the workers will be home."
Mrs Abubakr said each employee might receive up to Dh1,600 from the bank guarantee deposited by Mr D'Souza. "It is a little amount compared to what each worker was supposed to get. The bank amount is being equally divided among all the men," she said.
frahman@thenational.ae
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ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
