The Dubai Episode

Niranjan Vedantam

               As mentioned in the previous episode (The Abu Dhabi Episode), I had to meet the expenses of my family which was growing. In order to tackle such situations, I once again decided to go for a job abroad, especially Dubai. Before coming back from Abu Dhabi, I just went to a company by name NeemTech-Dubai, based in Karama, Dubai. This office was exactly opposite to the Emirates Post-Main office. That day, during the interview, I was asked many questions by Mr. Dwarapudi Satyanarayana. I confidently answered all the questions and he was also impressed with the way I was responding. He then scribbled something in his dairy and said I am selected and will be sending me the offer letter soon through email and If I accept the same, then he would further process my work permit and visa. I reached Hyderabad as mentioned in the previous episode.

               Now, I was eagerly waiting for the offer letter from NeemTech. I think during end of April 2017, I received the draft offer letter from NeemTech and it was mentioned 8000 dirhams per month all inclusive. I felt so happy and immediately accepted the offer letter through email. HE saw my reply and said that the process of visa and work permit will begin soon. I shared all the documents required for the same through email. Now each day was passing like one year. Finally received the entry visa from Mr. Narayana of NeemTech. I was excited to see that same. However, in the labor agreement copy which I signed it was mentioned AED 4000 dirhams instead of 8000 dirhams per month. When asked about it, Mr. Narayana said that through money exchange I will be receiving AED 4000 dirhams per month and he would pay me cash of AED 5000 dirhams each month. In addition to this, he also sent the offer letter on his company letter head for 8000 dirhams per month with regular terms and conditions.

               Having reviewed all the documents and after understanding the conditions mentioned in the offer letter, I booked my ticket to Dubai from Hyderabad on 17.05.2017. After heading to the RGIA at Shamshabad, I boarded the Emirates flight and reached Dubai on 17.05.2017. From the Dubai airport, I straight away reached the NeemTech Office based in Karama, Dubai. As soon as I reached the office, Mr. Narayana had shown me the offer letter, on which I signed and handed over him a copy.

 

The day I joined NeemTech, Mr. Narayana said that he would provide hotel accommodation for one night only. I was placed for one night in Ramee Royal Hotel, based in Bur Dubai. Next day morning I took my luggage to NeemTech Office and started working there seriously from 18-05-2023 onwards. Mr. Narayana said that I had to find out accommodation on my own and he would not be able to help me out any further in this regard. This was really disappointing, as I was not carrying enough cash this time. However, I called up my friend Shashidhar that day evening, who works in Dubai Municipality and stays in Sharjah. That day evening, he reached NeemTech to pick me up and drove me to Sharjah to his home. We spent some quality time together after two years, discussing about the future prospects in environmental consultancy and some personal stuff. We had dinner and slept off as it was already half past 11 in the night. Next morning, we got ready and he dropped me off at Karama. Somehow with utmost difficulty I managed to find one bedspace that was available in Karama area itself. However, Dubai is a bit expensive when compared to Abu Dhabi. I had to pay 1000 dirhams advance for a bed space (three people in one room). Quickly I settled down in that room and got ready and reached NeemTech on 19-05-2017. About one week passed by and applied for medical checkup and new Emirates ID. Within one month even that was done.

During the first week of June 2017, Mr. Narayan called me to his cabin and handover me about AED 4000 dirhams which was my first salary in NeemTech for 15 days. I felt happy and sent some money to home using City Exchange which was at the ground floor within the same building. I gained some confidence and was working very sincerely and making sure to update Mr. Narayan on daily basis. He also felt happy with my working style. However, I was not happy with him as he refused to provide me accommodation. Later on, to my surprise, I figured out that I was the only one working other than Mr. Narayana in NeemTech. He tried to create an impression that he had 14 staff who went on vacation and could not come back as that project in which they were working did not get any further extension. One by one things were unfolding and I felt that I was trapped by him to join this company. Could not do much about it as I had already completed 20 days. June month also passed by quickly and we were getting busier in bidding with DEWA for big tenders. Day and night we worked and submitted about 4 tenders within one month. However, we did not qualify due to high rates. Mr. Narayana was a very stubborn man who never used to listen to anyone. He thought he is master of all sciences and technologies.

In the meantime, I managed to get some monitoring works in Ajman and Sharjah by contacting some of my old clients there. I Was getting busy and occupied with continuous work. To my surprise, Mr. Narayana did not even arrange any pickup vehicle for carrying the pollution testing equipment. I had to hire private vehicle for the same. Day by day it is becoming difficult to work with Narayana and NeemTech. He made me follow for the pending payments from the clients every day. In some cases, the pending payments were 10 years old. After completing the monitoring works there, reached back to Dubai and kept all the pollution equipment in the store. We cleared the bills and sent back the driver. It was July 1^st week already in the year 2017. Time for the salary day and Mr. Narayana cleared 4000 dirhams by cash and asked to collect 4000 from the city exchange. However, he cleared 8000 dirhams as per offer letter. I again sent some money to home back in India to remaining I kept for my expenses. What ever might be the situation, I though I should not take any hasty decision and must continue there. The office environment was not so encouraging as there were no other staff and I could not interact with anyone. After couple of months, he stopped paying my full salary and was paying only AED 4000 per month. Even this situation I handled well and was waiting for him to clear my dues. However, he had no intentions to do that which I came to know after discussing with him. This is definitely a tight slap on my face. I trusted him and he betrayed me. Immediately I decided to resign from my position in NeemTech and sent him the resignation letter through email. The following table describes the sequence of events.

Sr. No	Details	Description	Remarks
1	Interview attended for the post of Environmental Engineer	Interview was held on 26th January, 2017, at NeemTech Office, Dubai	Mr. Narayana Verbally offered me AED8000 per month as fixed salary + commission on every project I bring to NeemTech
2	Received the Labor offer (Labor Contract) through email for the signature on the last page	On 9th May, 2017, I received the this Limited Offer	During this event I was back home at Hyderabad. This labor contract was prepared for AED4000 and the designation was Geology Technician General. Upon telephone conversation with Mr. Narayana, he clarified that only to reduce the medical insurance cost, I will be paid AED 4000 per month through WPS. However he promised me to pay balance AED 4000 by cash.
3	I received the e-visa (Entry Permit visa) through email from Mr. Narayana	On 15th May, 2017	Even on the entry permit visa my designation was mentioned as Geology Technician General
4	I reached Dubai and joined NeemTech and also received the Offer letter for AED 8000 as salary per month, from NeemTech signed by Mr. Narayana	On 17th May, 2017	On 17th May, 2017, I received offer letter dated 6th May, 2017, from Mr. Narayana by hand for a fixed salary of AED 8000 per month and designation was mentioned as Environmental Engineer
5	My resignation was sent through email to Mr. Narayana. Hard copy of the same was also handed over for his record.	On 19th October, 2017	He wanted to extend my probation by 6 more months for which I did not agree. Instead, I asked him to cancel my employment and visa.
5	Salary paid for the months as per the Company offer of 8000AED / month	May 2017: Received June 2017: Received 8000 July 2017: Received 8000 Aug 2017: Received 4000 Sep 2017: Received 4000 Oct 2017: Received 4000 Nov 2017: None….	As per the WPS I received all the dues. But as per the offer letter from NeemTech I still have to receive 12000 AED + November Salary as I am still attending the office

 

At this moment, I had no other option, but to reach the labour department and lodge a formal complaint against Mr. Narayana regarding the nonpayment of full salary as per the offer letter. I reached the labour department and spoke to the concerned officer. He mentioned that in the past also many people complained against him for the same reason. This was yet another shock to me and I was getting worried about my future. However, the labour officer called Narayana directly on him mobile, but the latter did not answer the call. Now the labour officer formally instructed me to proceed to some counter there and submit the complaint form for further action. I did the same and reached back to NeemTech and told Mr. Narayana that I had already complained against him as he was not willing to pay full salary. He was just laughing and did not react. He was so rude and shameless person. As there was no response whatsoever from Mr. Narayana, I picked up some courage and filed a case against Mr. Narayana in Dubai Courts. Within 15 days, I was called to the first hearing. I attended to court where all were speaking Arabic. I requested for one translator, which was immediately permitted by the Judge present in the Court. Mr. Narayana did not appear in the Court that day. Judge asked me to visit again after 30 days. I had to go back to Karama to my room that day. Even more challenging situations arose, where in my mental stability was taken to troll. Reason for this was, I had no money left with me and was literally surviving on tea which costed 1 dirham. The last Dirham I was left with is still with me today which was my only inspiration during those hardships.

Like this, I had spent tough times in Dubai for nearly 4 months jobless and just attending Court for some breakthrough. Exactly after 4 months, the Judge gave a verdict, where it was clearly mentioned that NeemTech Narayana has to pay all my salary dues, plus additional amount of the same value as penalty and a first class return flight ticket, for deceiving me. After holding the judgement copy, I started crying in the court and finally felt relieved. Within one week, I received another notice that Mr. Narayana hired a professional Lawyer and appealed against that judgement. For those appeals again, I had to reply in Arabic and submit to the Court. This happened for three times and three more months have passed. During this time with the timely help of my Father-in-law and brother-in-law, I was surviving in Dubai in a hope that I will be witnessing the justice. To my surprise, nothing was moving, and I was forced to return to my home in Hyderabad for the sake of my family members. I gave up to fight now as I was not having any job there. This was a big lesson to me and I had learnt that we should never join any company in Dubai, in fact anywhere, without doing proper research about the company. It should not be like “some one told me and I joined that company”. These things have become common these days in many established companies as well.

               Sometimes the most intelligent people also fall in the trap of such people (NARAYANA). Just a couple of months back (Probably, during the month of August 2023) wife of Mr. Narayana called me and informed me that Mr. Narayana was no more. We all will have to die one day, but what matters is what did we do in our life and how many people got positively impacted due to our deeds. I am sure Mr. Narayana had cheated all his previous employees. What did he gain from this? Nothing but stressful death. As per his wife, even on the death bed he was thinking to send me a legal notice. He had developed so much grudge against me. However, I lost everything I had in Dubai, but gained a lot about people’s psychology. Now I can easily figure out the intentions of the people in the first interaction itself.