Indian Workers in Dubai Allege Passport Seizure and Unpaid Wages
Four Indian nationals allege Summer City Building Contracting LLC in Dubai has seized passports and failed to pay salaries or overtime.
Four Indian nationals have launched a public appeal on social media, detailing harrowing allegations of labor exploitation against a construction firm operating in Dubai.
The workers, hailing from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, claim that their employer, Summer City Building Contracting LLC, has engaged in illegal practices including the confiscation of travel documents and the withholding of earned wages.
Allegations of Passport Confiscation and Wage Theft
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on November 9, 2026, the group—which includes Chockalingam Nallan Chockalingam—outlined a series of grievances regarding their working conditions. The primary allegations include:
- Passport Seizure: The workers claim the company has taken possession of their passports, a practice that is strictly prohibited under UAE labor laws.
- Unpaid Salaries: The group alleges that promised salary payments have not been disbursed.
- Overtime Discrepancies: Beyond base pay, the workers state that overtime hours worked at construction sites have not been compensated at the legally required rates.
Seeking Diplomatic Intervention
Recognizing the severity of their situation, the workers have tagged the Indian Consulate in Dubai and the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in their digital plea. They are seeking urgent intervention to protect their rights and ensure their documents are returned.
The situation highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by low-skilled migrant workers within the regional construction sector.
The Role of MOHRE and the Wage Protection System
While the UAE utilizes the Wage Protection System (WPS) to monitor and ensure timely salary payments to employees, these allegations suggest that certain private firms may still find ways to bypass enforcement.
As of now, it remains unverified whether the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has officially launched an investigation into the conduct of Summer City Building Contracting LLC. Labor advocates continue to advise migrant workers to utilize formal legal channels through MOHRE to seek redress for such grievances.