What a difference a year makes for Bangladeshi workers left in limbo

A group of men had to live exposed to the sun at an electric substation in Dubai as they fought for their hard-earned wages. Now, many have new jobs and are able to support their families again.

Mahabub Shahidullah, from Bangladesh, at his new job as assistant store keeper with Kele Contracting in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

DUBAI // At this time last year Mahabub Shahidullah did not know what the future held.

The Bangladeshi, 22, was one of 25 building workers who were abandoned when their employer, Robust Contracting, shut down.

It had not paid their salaries for between four and six months and so owed them thousands of dirhams.

The men were forced to live in an electric substation at Dubai Investment Park 2 for at least six months.

“We had no water or electricity and were dependent on people in the area to help us,” said Mr Shahidullah, who now works as an assistant store keeper.

The men were living on handouts from Green Community residents who brought them water and food regularly to help them through the summer months.

“We were living in the scorching heat for months, not knowing what would happen to us,” Mr Shahidullah said. “People from the Green Community took pity on us and used to give us food.”

The men spent months living out in the open, exposed to the harsh UAE sun, before things started looking up.

Officials from their former employer tried to have them deported but the Bangladeshi consulate in Dubai intervened and gave them temporary accommodation.

The consulate insisted their salaries must be paid before anything happened, especially as 16 of the men had filed cases with the Dubai Labour Court seeking their unpaid money back.

The nine others had accepted an offer from the company to pay them Dh2,000 each plus air tickets home.

But then Mr Shahidullah, the former camp boss, and nine of his co-workers whose visas had expired were employed by Dubai company Kele Contracting.

“One of the Green Community residents told us that the company was hiring, so we tried our luck and got the jobs,” he said.

The court liquidated Robust’s assets after issuing several notices telling the company to pay the men’s salaries.

They eventually received payouts of between Dh5,200 and Dh9,300. Mr Shahidullah was paid Dh7,000 this year.

“I didn’t think things would change so much for us. I really hope nobody else goes through the problems we went through,” he said.

Mr Shahidullah was his family’s sole breadwinner, so his ageing parents and siblings in Bangladesh also suffered when he was unable to send money.

“I couldn’t tell them how I was living as I didn’t want to upset them,” he said. “But now I am working again and can support them. They are very happy that I am able to send them money again.

“My workplace is good as the company gives us food and pays our salaries on time. My colleagues are also nice and friendly. They give me a lot of respect.”

Andrew Elias, the chief executive of Kele Contracting, wrote on the firm’s website: “We are glad to have played our part in helping these workers stand on their feet once again, allowing them to help themselves and their families.

“They have fought hard for their rights, they were unwavering in the most deplorable circumstances and now it has all changed.”