The number of labour complaints registered with the Consulate General of India in Dubai soared 33% this year.
The number of grievances rose from 219 in 2004 to 328 for the year-end 2005.
The figure for the 2005 year- end has been calculated on a mean average basis for a period of 12 months.
Most labour complaints registered relate to non-payment of salaries by construction industry employers, according to the Consulate of India.
“The reason for this increase in complaints is definitely due to more awareness among the labourers,” said KM Venugopalan, labour consul at the Indian Consulate.
“But I think it will begin to decline again as many of these labourers are now aware of the new help lines introduced by the Dubai Police.”
He said that complaints registered with consulate authorities during its camp visits — conducted at least once a month —are also taken into account and added to the total number of complaints filed.
K Kumar, convener of the Consulate’s welfare wing at the Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC), said: “The increase in the complaints is a positive sign. It shows that the workers are now more aware of who they can turn to and [they] are [now] quite positive that action will be taken in their defence.”
“The media has played a very positive role in this regard and even a picture of a demonstration that appears in the papers is enough for an illiterate labourer to understand that his problems are being addressed.”
Dubai was hit by several strikes this summer, involving construction workers protesting over pay and conditions.
The increase in industrial unrest prompted the Dubai Police to establish a hotline for site workers in dispute with their employers.
The hotline has already received thousands of calls from construction labourers.
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