Dubai // A free, walk-in resource centre providing Indian workers, especially semi-skilled and unskilled labourers, direct access to welfare services was inaugurated last night by Pratibha Patil, India's president.
Workers in distress can call a toll-free number, 800 46342 (800-India), from anywhere in the UAE to seek counselling, information or advice relating to legal issues such as contracts and financial matters.
The centre is located on Khalid bin Waleed Street and will be open from 3pm to 7pm every day.
The phone lines will be open 24 hours a day and will be available in several languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu. Other Indian languages will be added later.
In cases of disputes concerning contracts and other legal documents, workers will be referred to a qualified advisor. In addition, one-on-one sessions can be arranged for labourers in need of psychological counselling.
Of the 1.75 million Indians that make up the Indian expatriate community in the UAE, more than half work as blue-collar workers in the construction industry.
Low wages, delayed salary payments and isolation are the leading causes of depression among workers in the Emirates, said KV Shamsudheen, the chairman of the Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, an organisation that advises expatriates, particularly low-income Indians, on financial matters.
"It's an excellent idea, a very good initiative," said Mr Shamsudheen, who launched a similar helpline six years ago. "It will be a great relief for people to be able to phone in any time of day. As a non-profit organisation we had our own limitations."
He conducted a workshop last week for a group of 10 men and women who will field calls for the centre.
"I told them that they must be very patient, that the person calling must feel that you sincerely want to help," Mr Shamsudheen said. "They just want to know that there is someone listening to their problems."
Suresh Kumar, an electrician from the southern Indian Andhra Pradesh state, said: "I heard on the radio that they will answer in Telugu, Tamil and many other languages. Then I will feel comfortable talking because I can't properly understand what the man in the bank says. This will help settle my mind."
rtalwar@thenational.ae
