No end in sight to plight of unpaid textile workers

Sharjah/Dubai: Dozens of unpaid and abandoned textile workers, owed thousands of dirhams, were offered Dh750 each by their employer yesterday.

About 60 workers, mostly Sri Lankan women, said they were owed five months' salary when the Al Noor Textile Industrial Factory closed in August.

The women said they were gradually abandoned at their labour compound in Sharjah Industrial Area One. The catering company providing their food made its last shipment on October 28. Their electricity and water were cut off in November.

Yesterday, the 32 Sri Lankan women went to Sharjah's court for the second time to negotiate a settlement with the factory owner's lawyer, who offered the women Dh750 each and a ticket home, the women said.

Nalanthi, one of the textile workers, said she would not go home without all the money she was owed. Bala Tatabendi, from the Sri Lankan Consulate, said the offer was outrageous.

"Some of the women are owed between Dh3,000 and Dh21,000." Tatabendi said the factory owner should restore water and electricity before discussing a settlement.

Meanwhile, deprivation has developed into racial tensions between the Sri Lankan women and 14 Bangladeshi women living in the compound.

"The latest fight was over a prepaid telephone card," said Sultana, from Bangla-desh. "We are quite agitated."

Another Bangladeshi woman, Ameenah, said the consulate had not helped them.

"No official has visited us. We plan to go the consulate once we get transport money. We live on handouts as our plight generates pity."

The company's owners were not available for comment. A security guard at the labour compound, who refused to allow Gulf News reporters to enter, would not provide the number.

The telephone numbers provided by both the Labour Ministry and Etisalat for the company were disconnected.