Hundreds without salaries for Eid in Dubai

DUBAI // Hundreds of workers will spend Eid without their salaries after an exchange bureau failed to transfer the cash.

Police were called amid scenes of chaos yesterday at the head office of Asia Exchange Centre in Bur Dubai, which handles the wages of dozens of companies.

Twenty or more company managers complained that their workers' salaries had been transferred to Asia Exchange but had still not been paid.

Arif Kunnumpurath, an accountant at Al Qutoof Jewellery, is owed Dh6,000 and will have to wait until after Eid to pursue the exchange company's management. His family in Kerala are dependent on his income and he has had to borrow money from friends and his company.

Chirag Contracting deposited Dh339,000 for 300 employees on August 11, which has not been paid. "This company isn't giving us a proper reply and we are very angry," said Manuj Kumar, a Chirag manager.

"Some people haven't received money for two months and they are being told 'tomorrow' all the time. It causes these workers many problems as their families are waiting on this money."

No one at Asia Exchange could be contacted yesterday. Police said it was a matter for the Central Bank and Ministry of Labour.

mswan@thenational.ae