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Workers coming to the UAE to be on new scale

Abu Dhabi: An increase ranging from 40 to 50 per cent in the minimum wage for 36 categories of skilled and unskilled Indian workers who want to work in the UAE comes into effect on Tuesday, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE told Gulf News on Monday.

While the previous minimum wage level, fixed several years ago, ranged from Dh600 to Dh1,000, the new increased level will be from Dh950 to Dh1,400. The increased minimum wages are applicable to new recruits from India, Ambassador M.K. Lokesh said in an interview.

"It is just a pre-condition set by the embassy to attest the job contracts of Indian workers who hold ECR [Emigration Clearance Required] passports," he said.

Indians who have not passed matriculation (Grade 10) hold ECR passports and need clearance from the Protector of Emigrants [POE] of the Government of India to work abroad on an employment visa. The POE will give the emigration clearance based on the attestation of relevant documents by the Indian Embassy or the Consulate.

According to the new list released by the embassy, the Dh1,100 minimum wage for housemaids fixed in February 2008 has not been changed. However, the minimum wage for cleaners, fishermen, gardeners, farm workers, office boys, waiters and washer men have been increased to Dh950 per month. Helpers, technicians and skilled traders will also get a minimum of Dh950, and sign painters and drivers Dh1,300.

All other categories of workers will get Dh1,400.

Resource centre

The Indian Workers Resource Centre (ICWRC) based in Dubai will open a walk in counter at Indian Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) in Abu Dhabi soon, the Indian Ambassador told Gulf News.

It will function every Friday from 3 to 7pm, M.K. Lokesh said. Workers can seek help from the counter on various issues, he said.