MJC

From the Human Rights Watch people...

This should make uncomfortable reading for the Government

Happiness

Just out of interest, can someone tell me what is the main nationality of the EMPLOYERS who are directly in charge of the workers and who do not obide by the laws laid down by the UAE government? Are most of them not from the same countries that these very workers come from?

MJC

Because of the 51/49% split(excepting the free zone companies), the actual owners of most companies are Emiratis, but the day to day running of the company's is done by the minority shareholders, they can be from anywhere.

shiva

Technically as MJC says the owners are legally 51% Emirati, however the reality is often very different, the company laws here are so screwed that most companies have different "grey" legal set ups with one Emirati owned company in the shadows acting as a parent comapny or Joint Venture partner with possibly hundreds of other companies. All day to day running and profit taking is then left up to the minority shareholders. and very often the legal owner has no idea whats happening. ( dont get me wrong, a lot of Emiratis are very aware of whats happening though)

The great irony and disgusting truth is that an awful lot of the abuse of Indians, Pakistanis and other Sub Cons is actually perpetrated by their own countrymen. I dont know the figures (nobody does) but i reckon the vast majority of the exploitation of Indians is conducted by other Indians, with the whole scam being run both in the Middle East and India by the same people.

The workers pay a "recruitment" company in India for a job here, get massivly in debt to them ( as those comapnies like to loan the fee/payment to the worker), then come here to be screwed daily by the same people they paid in the first place to get the crappy job and spend the next two years or more paying off the original debt before they make a living, and if the comapny is smart, then they dont pay wages so the debt accrues to the point where it can never be paid by earning 800aed per month thus leaving the worker in perpetual servitude.

Its slavery but with a cracking modern capitalist twist, not only do you get free labour, but the labour actually pays you to employ them, morally its repugnant but financially its pure genius.

The biggest question is: a lot of the workers in India know of the treatment here from family and friends who have done it and complained. So just how desperate are they that they still line up by the thousands to get here nowing what will befall them.

Its fooked frankly, but as long as the cities need to grow it will continue, the unfortunate historical truth is that all cities and civilisations are built on the back of exploitation, its just that we give a damn today!!!

littlejimmy

Ain't that the truth?

Anyway, it's hard work being a liberal and living in this place. I feel like a complete hypocrite.