Mangalore: Cheated by job agents, nine youths return from Abu Dhabi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, Oct 9: A group of youth who went to the Gulf for employment returned to their hometown on Tuesday October 8, after being allegedly cheated by agents who promised them lucrative jobs in Abu Dhabi.
The nine youths of coastal districts returned home empty-handed without any job after spending a fruitless month there.
Mohammed Naushad from Ullal, Abdul Javed from Chikmagalur, Jagadish Nayak from Honnavar, Ashraf from Ullal, Hussain Zakaria from Padubidri, Abdul Rahim from Manjeshwar, Mohammed Basheer from Uppinangady, Raghava Poojary from Udupi and Firoz Mannava from Udupi were the youths who landed back at Mangalore airport from Abu Dhabhi on Tuesday.
After landing at Mangalore International Airport, the youths shared their problems, disappoinment and experiences with media persons.
Four months back, the agents who got in touch with the youths introduced a person named Sayyed, who was operating in Kudroli. Sayyed collected a sum of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lac each from 21 people. The amount included fee for visa, air ticket fares and guarantee of job.
"The agent promised us jobs at Royal Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi with a salary of 1,250 Dirhams along with food and accommodation, and hence I mortgaged gold and arranged the money," said Abdul Javed.
The group got a first shock on September 17, when, after landing in Abu Dhabi they were taken to a date manufacturing unit instead of the hotel. The agents also told them that half of their salary will be deducted.
The date manufacturing unit was in a desert area where, after a long wait of two hours, the agents promised a salary of 800 Dirhams. In additional, 150 dirhams was collected as visa charge from them.
"We were not even provided with food, medical benefits and six of us were made to stay in one room," they said.
Saddened by the incident, a group of 10 workers approached the court for justice and others went in search of better jobs. As they had approached the court, their salary was increased to 950 Dirhams and they were sent to Abu Dhabi for work.
But these youths from coastal districts were reportedly made to clean the roads and stay in houses as good as slums. Later on October 3, they were terminated from the job and when the company was asked to give back their passports, the employer demanded one month's salary, they said.
Unable to pay the money, the nine youths began living on the road side. Noticing their condition, a member of India Fraternity Forum (IFF) rescued them by seeking the help of labour court, through which they obtained their passports as well as return air tickets.
"Now we have huge amount of loan on us and we do not know how to repay it. We have also planned to file a complaint against the agents," said the youths.