Lukewarm reply to job offers

Abu Dhabi: Indian amnesty seekers gave a lukewarm response to job offers with only about 60 ready to work here out of the 3,000 applicants waiting to go home, said embassy officials.

"One single company alone was offering 685 jobs," one official said. "Several employers had approached the Indian Embassy asking for skilled workers such as electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters and masons," he said.

The lack of interest in working here is because of the severe hardships the illegal workers had undergone.

"Most of them do not want to come back", said a senior official at the embassy. "They say they will earn only about Rupees 4,000 to 5,000 (between Dh 365 to Dh 460 per month) at any job here, which they can easily earn back home."

Complaints

The embassy has not set up boxes to receive job applications also because most of the illegal workers are illiterate, said officials.

"Most of them are unable to fill in an application. Our support team informed the applicants about how they could regularise their residency status and helped them fill job applications. But only 60 people submitted the applications so far," said the official.

The support team has received a number of complaints against company PROs who ask for bribes up to Dh10,000 to release the passports of absconders.

"The team checks on the complaints and talks to the sponsors or companies concerned and try to find an amicable solution. If that fails the amnesty seekers are advised to complain to the Ministry of Labour. Today we directly forwarded two complaints to the Ministry", said the official.

Gulf News had earlier reported that labour reforms here may have come too late as contractors find it difficult to recruit more Indian workers.

The labourers are turning down jobs in the UAE because of stagnant salaries, as wages in India are on the upswing because of it's own construction boom.

Property development has surged in India as foreign firms invest in the information technology (IT) sector and call centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Many Indian labourers are also reluctant to pay the transaction costs to move here, which leaves them with huge debts to pay, say contractors.

Good Riddance! I am so excited having read the comments on here posted by so many other readers stating that they will soon return to their respective countries. Yes the cost of living has gone up while wages lag behind because so many of you people simply refuse to go back to your "supposed" greener pastures. I for one cannot wait for your mass exodus back home. It will greatly reduce the strain on everything from housing to traffic and costs will eventually decrease to a sustainable level. So free up your parking spot and have a safe trip back.
Mohammad
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 18:22

Loved this news.
Rasif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 15:12

It is not surprising that many people both amnesty seekers and legal residents are no longer attracted to live in Dubai. Wages in India have either matched or surpassed what could be earned in Dubai. We may soon see an exodus of skilled personnel to India.
Kraya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 13:50

With news of incidents of victimisation of labourers in the UAE, it is really good news that these labourers are refusing jobs here.
Wasim
Muscat,Oman
Posted: July 28, 2007, 13:11

We can't blame the workers who seek to go home without joining any firms here. First of all, authorities have to set up an economy balanced lifestyle in emirates like Dubai.
MVB
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 12:47

I have returned to India from Dubai. India offers great opportunities for all kinds of workers with a saving potential higher than in Dubai.
Babu
Bangalore,India
Posted: July 28, 2007, 12:45

Having observed the rapid changes in the cost of living in the UAE, it is high-time for us to go back home and live peacefully with our families.
Sulaiman
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 12:39

It's surprising to hear that labourers in the UAE earn an equivalent of 4000-5000 Indian Rupees. Back in India even an average construction worker earns between 7000-8000 rupees per month in cities and 4000-5000 in villages.
Jones
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 12:39

It is no surprise that Indian workers do not want to work in the UAE. Low wages plus other costs in no way will motivate them to stay. The same will hold true for professionals.
Abraham
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 11:48

I think very soon there will be a shortage of skilled Indian workers since many of them will prefer to seek job opportunities in India where the cost of living is lower than in Dubai.
Habeeb
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 08:11

With the present low pay scale and high cost of living, nobody will prefer to work in Dubai. It is high time for a minimum wage rule to be implemented in the emirate.
Suresh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 28, 2007, 06:14