SHARJAH Even as corporates and charities reach out to labourers in keeping with the spirt of Ramadan, 23 workers of a Sharjah eatery are struggling to make ends meet.
Left to fend for themselves by their employer, the workers, mostly Indians, have not been paid for three months despite a court ruling. The men have been living in a cramped workers’ accommodation in Industrial Area 13 without food and money for several days. But now they may have to vacate the place as their employer has cut their electricity connection and ordered them to vacate immediately.
“They have also threatened to stop our water supply. We have been living like beggars, but at least we have a roof over our heads. Soon, even that would be gone. I don’t know how long we can survive like this,” said Sharafuddin Abu Sali, who worked at the Sharjah Automatic Bakery near National Paints.
Baker Sali, along with 22 others, filed a case against their employer in August 2014 to recover their salaries and passports.
In February this year, the Sharjah court passed a ruling in their favour, but hopes were dashed when the bakery owner refused to comply.
“We have tried to contact our employer several times, but he never answers the phone. We are stuck as he has got our passports. Some of them are due for renewal. Our visas have also expired. Who do we turn to for help?” said Murugan Andi. The restaurant owner refused to comment on the issue.
