Since the 1970s oil boom, the Middle-East region has been one of the principal destinations for workers from South Asia, with the result that today Indians constitute is a large percentage of the non-nationals living in the region. Out of those, the major part of the population consists of Blue-Collar workers from South Asia. Blue-collar workers perform labour jobs. IBN-Lokmat brings to you the unseen, miserable story of the South Asian blue collar workers living in the Gulf Countries in ‘Aakhatatil Vethbigari’ on Reportaaz on 3rd of August, Sunday, at 11:30 am and 8.30 pm.
The Glittering malls in the Gulf Countries, the high rise buildings, the typically shiny life of these countries include huge contributions from these blue collar workers. They send back a massive figure around 70 billion dollars to their homeland every year, but nobody knows the real truth behind the glitter. They work as domestic helps, as construction workers, truck drivers, aircraft mechanics, plumbers, electricians and structural workers. Many blue-collar employers hire unskilled and low-skilled workers to perform simple tasks such as cleaning, maintenance and assembly line work etc. In Middle East they are popularly known as 3D workers- a term that sums up the quality of their lives - Dirty Dangerous & Demeaning.
The blue collar workers are often exposed to adverse conditions. This uncertain work can impose severe physical and mental costs on them. There is often a risk of early retirement due to injury, general joint depletion or mental fatigue. After witnessing the constant physical and mental injury to co-workers or even death, the stress can cause mental fatigue and post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the RBI, in 2012 India received 70 billion dollars as foreign exchange overtaking countries like Mexico n China in the race for forex. A significant contribution to that comes from blue collar workers. These nameless, voiceless men and women who are taken for granted by their home country and exploited by their host country, Seem to have lost their worth for life.
To know more about these helpless new age bonded labours & their miserable life spent away from their homes tune into IBN Lokmat through Reportaaz in ‘Aakhatatil Vethbigari’ on 3rd of August, Sunday, at 11:30 am and 8.30 pm