Tamil Nadu Workers Trapped in Dubai Over Wage Theft
Four Indian steel fixers in Dubai claim their employer confiscated passports and withheld wages, facing deportation as permits expire.
Four Indian workers from Tamil Nadu have issued an urgent public plea for help, claiming they are trapped in Dubai after their employer allegedly withheld their wages and confiscated their passports.
The men—identified as Chockalingam Nallan Chockalingam, Nagarajan Alagu Alagu, Magesh Alagu Alagu, and Anbu Selvam Muthukrishnan—reported that they are unable to leave the country or seek new employment due to the actions of their employer, Summer City Building Contracting L.L.C.
Allegations of Illegal Passport Retention and Unpaid Wages
The workers arrived in the UAE in mid-September 2026 to work as steel fixers on entry permits. However, they claim the situation has turned into a nightmare. According to their appeal, the company has engaged in several illegal practices, including:
- Confiscating passports: Preventing the workers from traveling or accessing their legal documents.
- Wage theft: Failing to provide promised monthly salaries.
- Overtime violations: Withholding full compensation for overtime hours worked.
Imminent Risk of Deportation and Fines
The situation is reaching a breaking point. The workers' entry permits are set to expire in mid-November 2026. Without immediate intervention, they face the risk of accumulating heavy overstay fines and potential deportation from the country.
These alleged actions are in direct violation of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which strictly prohibits employers from retaining employee passports and mandates that all wages must be paid through the Wage Protection System (WPS).
A Growing Trend of Labour Exploitation
This incident reflects a broader, troubling pattern of labor exploitation affecting low-skilled Indian expatriates across the Gulf. Recent reports from early November 2026 have highlighted similar grievances in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where workers reported being forced into 12-to-16-hour shifts for stagnant salaries ranging from SAR 1,000 to 2,500, often followed by abrupt residency visa cancellations.
The distressed workers have tagged the Indian Consulate General in Dubai, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the Ministry of External Affairs in their desperate appeals for rescue.
How Distressed Workers Can Seek Help
Authorities advise any worker facing similar exploitation in the UAE to take immediate action through official channels:
- Contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) by calling 800 60.
- Register a formal complaint via the Indian government's madad.gov.in portal.
As of the latest reports, Summer City Building Contracting L.L.C. has not issued a public response regarding these serious allegations.