
Faced with two incidents of workers8217; riots over the past two months in the Gulf, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, during his visit to the region starting from May 3, will take up the issue with the labour ministers of UAE and other Gulf countries.
However, Ravi said the Ministry will not support any Indian worker taking violent means while pressing for their demands. 8216;8216;We will sympathetically look into all the complaints and grievances of the overseas workers. But those who break the law of the respective country will get the punishment for the same,8221; the minister said.
Yesterday, some 2,000 labourers, mostly Indians, went on a rampage demanding better wages and working conditions at Dubai Marina construction site.
According to reports, the workers employed by the Al Ahmadiah Contracting company were protesting over 8220;low wages and poor working conditions.8221; The agitators smashed vehicles and machinery at the site.
Sources said that 40 people 8212; many of them from India 8212; who instigated the workers will be deported and six of them were arrested for violence. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has sought a detailed report about the incident from the Indian Embassy in UAE.
This is the second incident of workers8217; violence. Last month, some 4,000 labourers, most of them from India working for the construction firm Al Naboodah, turned violent at Burj Dubai.