Indian Workers
In most Western newspapers, this would be a huge story. Here, they don’t even name the company who has created this problem! (?)
Here is what the Dubai Press said:
Indian workers refuse to release colleague’s body
Saturday, 14 October , 2006, 13:27
Dubai: Rebellious workers are refusing to release the body of an Indian, who died in a squalid camp housing 1,300 labourers held captive by an influential contracting company in Kuwait.
Bino Stephen died on Friday in the desert camp where men hailing from India, the Philippines and Egypt are being held.
No government action has been forthcoming despite media reports on the appalling living conditions in the camp.
”We want to find a solution to our dreadful situation by having our living conditions improved or have us repatriated back home,” said Mohammed, one of the workers.
Four other inmates have been ill since last week because of suspected malaria and the water supply is unfit for human consumption.
An official of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour told the Kuwait Times that the death of one person in the camp could not be termed ‘disaster’.
He said if there is a complaint, it has to be registered, and the complainant should come personally to do so in order to take action.
When asked whether the ministry would send an inspector to the camp to check the conditions there, the official said he cannot take the risk in case the inspector falls sick or gets infected.
Here is what the Kuwait Times says:
Ray of hope for workers
By Nawara Fattahova
KUWAIT: The condition of a group of workers who protested against unfair living conditions in their camp has improved after Kuwait Times published reports about their plight over the weekend. The workers received promise from their employer that they will be shifted from the camp by the beginning of November after one of the workers died early this week. Also four sick workers were taken by ambulance to get medical treatment.
The workers were recently shifted to a camp in the desert and they refused to stay there and went on strike. They were then imprisoned at the camp, and later a worker died and four others fell sick. The workers sought help, and it was difficult. Then one of the workers got advice to call the emergency number 777. “After calling the emergency, they sent an ambulance, which took the four sick workers to the hospital,” said Mohammed, one of the workers at the camp.
“After we got the promise to be shifted from this place, and saving the sick workers, we decided to go back to work. Although we don’t trust the employer, we hope he will fulfil his promise and let us live in a normal place,” he added.
The Kuwait Times will be following this case, and will inform the readers whether the workers left the camp or are still living in the hard and terrible conditions.
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“When asked whether the ministry would send an inspector to the camp to check the conditions there, the official said he cannot take the risk in case the inspector falls sick or gets infected.”
This is very sad, government must take action to such issues. Everyone deserves their share of respect regardless of race & religion, something most people from this country lack to understand. Money has rotten the people of Kuwait.
I’ve met many very good, very honorable Kuwaitis, so I can’t agree that money has rotten the people of Kuwait. At the same time, it’s clear that some of the ministries are not functioning, and you have to wonder what the problem is.
I remember reading that there have been no new water processing plants built since before the first Gulf War. And the once beautiful and modern highways are falling increasingly into disrepair. And there ARE laws on the books – but there seems to be a problem with police abuse of power and lack of law enforcement. Something’s not right.
You are right, I’ve met some very good and honorable Kuwaitis as well. But racism does exist in this country in a bigger scale, so does the pride of money, something you probably didn’t encounter. And about police abuse of power and lack of law enforcement, seems like its getting worst everyday.
I just added an address to my blogroll:
http://www.hilaliya.com/
because of an article he (?) wrote called Embrace Tolerance, which briefly examines current problems and gives them a historical perspective. Somehow, I found his approach hopeful.
Most countries have to sort through a lot of chaos on the road to human rights. I don’t know that any country has really gotten there, yet.