Homeless labourers wait for salaries from defunct employer

Twenty-five construction workers who are living in the open or in electric substations are still waiting for their salaries, a year after their former employer went out of business.

DUBAI // The fate of 25 homeless Bangladeshi construction workers whose company shut down last year remains uncertain as they continue to wait for thousands of dirhams in unpaid salaries.

The men's future was still in limbo today, more than a month after a Dubai court warned their employer that its assets would be liquidated.

A former employee of Robust Contracting Company, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company has little money left to pay the workers, as most of its assets and bank guarantee had been used to pay other creditors. The Dubai Labour Court issued a notice on April 3, giving Robust 15 days to pay the salaries. But so far, nothing has happened, despite the notice.

The workers, who are living on an empty piece of land in Dubai Investments Park (DIP) 2, say the endless wait is affecting them.

"The court has asked us to wait for another week," said Mahboub Hasan, who was a camp boss.

He and the other workers have made electric substations in DIP their temporary home.

"It is very hard now since it's starting to get extremely hot. We are cooking in the open," he said.

Last month, the Bangladeshi consulate stopped seven of the firm's workers, including Mr Hasan, from being deported. The consulate said the men's salaries must be paid first. The consulate was not available for comment, despite repeated attempts.

According to Dubai Labour Court records, the company owes workers millions of dirhams, and there are many labour suits pending against them.

The court is still dealing with many cases - including that of the 25 workers - against the company, which was shut down for its assets to be sold. No further information on the value of the firm's assets was available.

The anonymous former Robust employee said the Dubai courts had shut the company down after it was unable to pay its debts.

"The owners owe more than Dh220 million to labour supply companies and workers," she said. "Only Dh24,000 is left from the bank guarantee."

The company had offered to pay each worker Dh2,000, plus flight tickets, a few months ago.

The firm owes the 25 Bangladeshi workers between Dh5,200 and Dh9,300, according to court records. In 2009, hundreds of men downed tools over non-payment of salaries by Robust for nearly six months. It also failed to pay salaries in 2007 and 2008, according to the Labour Ministry.

The former Robust employee blamed the owners, who she said had already left the country, for the problems.

"All this happened because of poor management," she said.

The workers yesterday said they will wait for the court to give its final decision.

"If I get my money, I will go back home," said Mohammed Latif, who worked as a mason.

But Mr Hasan said he would accept whatever the court decides.

"If the court tells us the company cannot pay us and asks us to accept lesser compensation, we will take what is given to us and look for new jobs," Mr Hasan said.

*With additional reporting by by Salam Al Amir