About 48 Indian workers appealed for help to return to their families from Muscat after they were not paid wages for months and did not have sufficient funds for food. A voluntary group Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas spotted their video and assisted them with help from officials from the Indian embassy. Photo: Redio group
About 48 Indian workers appealed for help to return to their families from Muscat after they were not paid wages for months and did not have sufficient funds for food. A voluntary group Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas spotted their video and assisted them with help from officials from the Indian embassy. Photo: Redio group
About 48 Indian workers appealed for help to return to their families from Muscat after they were not paid wages for months and did not have sufficient funds for food. A voluntary group Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas spotted their video and assisted them with help from officials from the Indian embassy. Photo: Redio group
About 48 Indian workers appealed for help to return to their families from Muscat after they were not paid wages for months and did not have sufficient funds for food. A voluntary group Rescuing Every

Indian workers return home to tell of low food supplies and unpaid wages


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

A group of about 50 Indian construction workers have returned home after not being paid wages for months and being forced to live by their employer in poor conditions with low food supplies.

The workers lived in Muscat for about a year and were not paid wages for at least three months. They had no money to buy food and had to subsist on dry rice meals.

They returned home in batches of 10 with the last group reaching India in January. Indian embassy officials worked with a voluntary group to obtain emergency exit papers for the workers and clear penalties for overstaying their visas. The workers had entered Oman on visit visas.

We have one message to workers like us – don’t leave India on a visit visa
Ayyaz Ansari,
an Indian electrician

Indian authorities and officials in the Gulf regularly issue cautionary messages urging workers to be wary of rogue employment agents and to contact government-registered agencies.

But unscrupulous agents prey on workers, entice them to countries in the Gulf on tourist visas and without legal employment contract.

Dwindling food supplies

Ayyaz Ansari, an electrician from the Indian state of Bihar, said he was among the group who reached Muscat to work in a construction company in December 2021.

“We believed the agents and it was the biggest mistake of our lives,” the 22-year-old said in a call.

“The first few months were okay and we were paid our salary on time.

“Then more people were brought in and our work as electricians got over.”

The men were promised 120 Omani rials (Dh1,100/$300) a month. But salaries were cut, payments were delayed and they were made to live in cramped accommodation with about 15 in small room.

“We were told we had to do any work on the site, work as masons or do plastering work.

“Our salary was always delayed and for the last three months we did not get any money.”

With no money left to buy food, the workers reached out to Indian embassy officials in Muscat. They appealed for help on Twitter in October last year and posted a video message saying they were running out of food.

“We were in a bad condition in the camp. But we were helpless because many of us paid 80,000 rupees (Dh3,500/$970) to the agent so we needed to make some money.

“How could we manage without food? So we had to adjust and borrow food from people in other camps. We usually ate just dry rice. We hid all this from our families because we didn’t want them to worry.”

Mr Ansari finally confided in his parents who told him to seek help to get back home.

Another worker Mohammad said it had the incident affected the mental health of older workers who were the sole breadwinners.

“We worked a lot and all we asked was for our salary,” said Mr Mohammad from Uttar Pradesh state.

“There were men who were in their 50s and 60s and they fell into depression because of the tension.

“We had to tell them not to lose hope and that we would go home.”

False promises

The video on Twitter was seen by Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas, a voluntary group that has assisted workers in several countries in the Gulf and the Maldives.

The group founded by an Indian diplomat, a Dubai businessman and a social worker has helped more than 250 workers reach home after they were abandoned by fake recruiters.

Dhanashree Patil, a former Dubai resident and the group's chief executive, worked with officials from the Indian embassy in Muscat to ensure they returned home.

“We were able to help this group of 48 stranded labourers who suffered for months without proper food accommodation and salary in Oman,” Ms Patil said.

“But there are so many others who trust companies but these companies lie and promise false wages to labourers, many of whom are illiterate.

“They are forced to live in overcrowded labour camps and work without any overtime pay.”

She said the skilled and semi-skilled workers were from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Orissa, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

“The main problem is unauthorised agents who place advertisements in Indian newspapers, social media and online portals.

“They take the workers on a visit visa and promise this will be converted into an employment visa once they reach the destination country.”

The construction workers who back home have urged employment seekers to watch out for fake recruiters and not work while they are on a visit visa.

“We worked hard but we have lost a lot of money,” Mr Ansari said.

“I took a loan from my family, others took mortgages on their home. We are deeper in debt now.

“We have one message to workers like us — don’t leave India on a visit visa.

“And if you go abroad on a visit visa, make sure you leave when the visa ends.

“Don’t believe agents who try to convince you the company will complete your visa once you start work.

“They want to trick you and take your money.

“Don't make the same mistake we did.”

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
BRIEF SCORES

England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)  
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)

Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1

Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”

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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

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Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
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  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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While you're here
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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Directed by: Anthony Mandler

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington 

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Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets

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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Six tips to secure your smart home

Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.

Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.

Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.

Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.

Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.

Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.

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MATCH INFO

Leeds United 0

Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')

Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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5pm Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige Dh110,000 1,400m

5.30pm Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige Dh110,000 1,400m

6pm Abu Dhabi Championship Listed Dh180,000 1,600m

6.30pm Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m

7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m

7.30pm Handicap (TB) |Dh100,000 2,400m

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
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ARGENTINA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez

How to improve Arabic reading in early years

One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers

Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades

Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic

First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations

Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades

Improve the appearance of textbooks

Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings

Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught

Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar

Updated: March 22, 2023, 6:00 AM`