Jharkhand Man Jailed in Dubai Over Labour Law Violation
A 23-year-old Indian worker is detained in Dubai after being declared an absconder following a workplace absence intended for a family wedding.
A 23-year-old worker from Jharkhand, India, has been detained in a Dubai jail for four months following an alleged violation of the UAE's labour regulations.
Shashi Kumar Paswan, a resident of Dadra village in the Palamu district, is currently being held in Al Rashidiya jail. His detention follows a series of events that began when he attempted to return to India to attend his sister's wedding.
The Absconding Charge
Paswan had traveled to the UAE in 2025 to work as a technical helper for a private company based in Abu Dhabi. In an attempt to facilitate his travel back to India for his sister's wedding—scheduled for either late June or July—he reportedly sought the assistance of an agent.
However, Paswan's absence from his workplace for seven consecutive days led authorities to declare him an absconder. This designation is a violation of UAE labour regulations under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. The move resulted in several immediate legal consequences:
- Summary dismissal from his employment.
- Cancellation of his work permit.
- Subsequent imprisonment in Dubai.
Family Pleads for Intervention
The situation has left his family in a state of distress. Paswan's wife, Sumitra, has issued a public plea for legal assistance, maintaining that her husband was misled by a recruitment agent. There are reports suggesting that the agent involved may also be facing incarceration as part of investigations involving the messaging application Telegram.
In India, Paswan's father, Lalan Paswan, has taken formal action by filing a complaint at the Hussainabad police station in Palamu. Palamu Superintendent of Police, Kapil Choudhary, confirmed that the application has been forwarded to higher authorities for further review.
Call for Consular Support
The case has highlighted the significant risks faced by Indian migrant workers regarding recruitment agents and the strict application of labour laws. Legal advocates are now calling for urgent intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Consulate in Dubai to clarify Paswan's legal status and facilitate his potential repatriation.