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Dubai:
The Dubai dream has been shattered for thousands of Indians.
Sajid was working with a construction company called Al-hameed in Dubai and was excited to be back in his hometown Meerut to celebrate Eid with his family. But that was two days ago, on Monday, he has been sacked with just one call on the phone.
"My office called me up and said, there is no need to come," said Sajid.
Sajid is the most recent casualty after Dubai formally signalled its economic meltdown on Thursday.
But for thousand of workers, Dubai's recession is a story that goes back more than a year. Take the case of Abdul Hameel from Peshawar in Pakistan. Three years ago he was caught trying to enter Dubai from Oman illegally, caught he was sent back but his Dubai dream lived on till it was punctured by its reality.
"I got a visa and arrived last year," said Abdul Hameel.
NDTV: Even after being jailed earlier, you wanted to come back?
Abdul Hameel: "I thought I would earn money and send it home, that would help my family. But, I am stuck here now, with these bricks I am stuck."
These workers have paid lakhs to the agents, when they reach here, the dream of Dubai collapses and they are left optionless.
Harsh living conditions and no working rights, Abdul is now an illegal worker.
"According to the law of Dubai you can only work with the company who gets you the visa," said another worker.
Companies even keep their workers' passports fearing they will abscond. So once fired a worker is left without a passport, without a working permit and the status of being illegal.
Sajid was working with a construction company called Al-hameed in Dubai and was excited to be back in his hometown Meerut to celebrate Eid with his family. But that was two days ago, on Monday, he has been sacked with just one call on the phone.
"My office called me up and said, there is no need to come," said Sajid.
Sajid is the most recent casualty after Dubai formally signalled its economic meltdown on Thursday.
But for thousand of workers, Dubai's recession is a story that goes back more than a year. Take the case of Abdul Hameel from Peshawar in Pakistan. Three years ago he was caught trying to enter Dubai from Oman illegally, caught he was sent back but his Dubai dream lived on till it was punctured by its reality.
"I got a visa and arrived last year," said Abdul Hameel.
NDTV: Even after being jailed earlier, you wanted to come back?
Abdul Hameel: "I thought I would earn money and send it home, that would help my family. But, I am stuck here now, with these bricks I am stuck."
These workers have paid lakhs to the agents, when they reach here, the dream of Dubai collapses and they are left optionless.
Harsh living conditions and no working rights, Abdul is now an illegal worker.
"According to the law of Dubai you can only work with the company who gets you the visa," said another worker.
Companies even keep their workers' passports fearing they will abscond. So once fired a worker is left without a passport, without a working permit and the status of being illegal.
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