The Hindu : Front Page : Jayalalithaa seeks repatriation of 39 Tamil youth from UAE

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

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Jayalalithaa seeks repatriation of 39 Tamil youth from UAE

Special Correspondent

Describes their plight in letter to Manmohan Singh, asks him to intervene

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to arrange for "smooth repatriation" of 39 distressed Tamil youth working as low-wage employees in the United Arab Emirates.

In a letter, she said the youth were working with `Hospitality Catering and Service Co. LLC, Al Ain, UAE,' since 2003, "apparently without legal visa status, labour card or health card and have not been paid their salary and allowances." They were earlier with Four Catering and Catering Services Co, Abu Dhabi. When it was declared bankrupt they were shifted to Hospitality Catering and Service Co.

"These poor workers have not had their employment visas transferred to the new company, though they have repeatedly petitioned the company verbally and in writing," she said. They were not being given leave to go to India even on an emergency.

"These workers, who have been reduced to dire straits and now only want to return to India, are unable to do so because their passports have been impounded, their overstay has not been regularised and they have no money to pay huge penalties." They do not have money to buy the tickets.

The workers had represented before the Embassy of India in the UAE, but in vain. Their plight had been reported in the local Press at Al Ain.

"It is in these desperate circumstances that their condition was brought to my notice. You will agree that in such an extremely distressful and vulnerable situation, these 39 workers are being denied their basic human rights," Ms.Jayalalithaa said.

She requested Mr. Singh to direct the embassy to immediately approach the UAE Government to regularise the workers' overstay and waive penalties and also prevail upon the employers to pay them their dues, return their passports and issue them travel documents.

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