Fijians the latest to be exploited

Looks like Fijians are the latest nationality to be exploited by a Kuwaiti employer. In yesterday's Arab Times...

Over 80 Fijian truckers complain about not-payment of salaries

KUWAIT CITY: Over 80 stranded Fijian truckers employed with a well-known
local logistics company and plying on the Kuwait-Iraq route complained Monday
about non-payment of their salaries for three months. Slamming the heavy-handed
attitude of the company, the truckers alleged that the company was flouting the
work contract signed in Fiji. ‘The company promised us that it would increase
our salaries after the completion of the probation period but its almost seven
months now and the company has neither hiked our wages nor it has provided us
work visas as promised,’ they lamented. According to the truckers, more than 400
Fijians were signed up as truckers by the local company and have been plying to
Iraq on regular basis. Taking umbrage at the low risk allowance to Iraq, a
trucker told the Arab Times that the company was providing the truckers a mere
KD 50 as risk allowance.‘

We have been plying in some of the most dangerous areas in Iraq including
Fallujah, Mosul and Baghdad but the company does not appreciate our efforts. All
of us feel very vulnerable while traveling to Iraq but we are helpless.’ ‘Some
of us tried to resolve the problem with the company in a congenial manner but to
no avail. The management threatens workers with deportation if they approach
them to seek their dues.’ Added a trucker ‘All of us have families back home.
Their day-to-day activities have been disrupted owing to non-payment of our
salaries. How are we supposed to feed our families,’ he demanded to know.

The truckers, who earn monthly salary of KD 175, said as per the new
contract the truckers were to be paid over KD 1,000 per month and that the
company has been turning a blind eye to their repeated requests. ‘All we are
demanding is good working conditions and our salary on time.’The truckers also
alleged that some of their colleagues were incapacitated and were in urgent need
of medical care. ‘Some 80 Fijians were recently either terminated or forced to
resign by the company. While some got their dues, others were repatriated
without paying their indemnity.’ Says a trucker ‘we are being treated like
slaves by the company. We are not provided rations by the company while
traveling to Iraq. All truckers have to take care of their own supplies. The
company does not provide us accommodation in Iraq and as a result we have to
sleep in our trucks. The truck is like our living room.’ (contd.)

Hmmm... a promised increase in salary from KD 175 to KD 1,000 per month. There are suckers born every minute.