Protesting workers allege they were beaten again

Ajman: Police have denied claims by a group of disgruntled workers that they were beaten for the second time in a week by their company officials.

Four days after staging a protest, demanding unpaid salaries and humane living conditions, some workers from Perfect Group said they were beaten on Monday night.

"They beat us and four workers were taken into police custody. We lodged a complaint on Monday at the labour department in Sharjah and each one of us paid Dh5 to obtain a copy of our labour card," said a worker. They said no action has been taken by the ministry.

"We are only asking for our three months' outstanding salaries and we want our living conditions to improve to be fit for humans. We are cramped in small rooms and are not given drinking water. We are beaten regularly for no reason. We are ferried to our workplace from our accommodation in cramped buses."

According to an official from the labour department in Sharjah, no one has the right to beat workers. "I am astonished." He confirmed that the workers had lodged a complaint. The official said his department is attempting to solve the problem of the 500 workers.

An official from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs accused some of the workers of brandishing knives and threatening other workers who wanted to work. "About 25 men threatened their colleagues. They will have their visas cancelled and will be deported after they receive their full benefits," the official said.

The manager of the group of companies, Gopal Krishnan, said the workers had three options: to continue working, or to cancel their visas and go after taking their wages, or they can complain to the labour ministry.

He said they had only withheld two months' salary and when they cancel the visas they will give them the money. "It is a kind of guarantee," he said.

Officials from Al Sinaia Ajman Police in the Ajman Industrial area said they are not aware of the incident and that they did not see any worker being beaten.

An official said: "Police will not allow any such practices. It is also not true that four workers are in police custody." He denied that any untoward incident had taken place.

1,500 took to the streets in Sharjah

More than 1,500 workers from United Arab, Perfect Group and Atlantic Emirates Group, all manpower supply companies owned by a UAE national, marched to the labour department in Sharjah on Saturday protesting against unpaid salaries and inhuman living conditions. The companies have branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.

The workers gathered in Al Musalla Park in Al Rolla and marched to the Sharjah Labour and Social Affairs Department to complain.