Indian Community in the UAE
The Indian Community in the UAE, numbering 3.3 million, constitutes around 32% of the total population. With the emergence of the need for professionals to meet the need of the expanding service sector, the profile of the Indian community changed and now 15-20% of the Indian Community is made up of professionally qualified personnel followed by 20 percent white collar non-professionals (clerical staff, shop assistants, sales men, accountants, etc) and remainder 60% comprises of blue-collar workers. The economic boom in the UAE created a huge demand for short-term immigrant labour which witnessed increasing numbers of white collar non-professionals and professionals coming from India in the recent years.
The general problems faced by the community are:
- Non-payment or delayed payment of salaries
- Delay in getting service benefits, dues & death compensation
- Non-implementation of Court Verdicts
- Problems of Housemaids
- Illegal Workers
- Fine/Imprisonment & Deportation of illegals
- Settlement of Labour Disputes
- Retention of Passports by the Sponsors/UAE authorities
- Recovery of fees from workers
- Transportation of dead bodies to India in case of unnatural death
- Arrest Cases
- Personal/Family Problems
The grievance redressal mechanisms were earlier grossly inadequate and biased in favor of the employer. Over the last few years, there has been a steady improvement in their situation both in terms of the treatment of the workers and grievance redressal mechanisms. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK), with a 24-hour helpline, was inaugurated in Dubai by Hon’ble President of India in November 2010.
