Worker accuses sponsor of assault

An Indian worker has accused his employer of assaulting him twice and denying him four months' wages. The worker, Jitesh Mumbra, said that he was first assaulted last Friday when he asked for the renewal of his visa and on Saturday after he approached the Ministry of Manpower and the Indian Embassy.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Mumbra, employed as a car cleaner at Abdullah bin Salem bin Saeed al Rusheidi Trading in Musannah said, “My labour card expired on December 14, 2011.

On being asked about its renewal or sending me to India, he snatched my card and began to beat me up. He asked me to bring back my colleague who has been absconding. He said he will not part with my card and wallet unless I brought him back.”

The next day Mumbra approached the Indian Embassy's community welfare department which directed him to file a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower in Barka.

“The labour court, attached to the Ministry of Manpower, gave me a letter to hand over to the sponsor. I went to the camp on Saturday, to hand him the letter. He was furious on knowing about my complaint against him and assaulted me on the road. My relative who tried to intervene, too was attacked.”

Mumbra said he wanted to go back to his home in Kerala as he was finding it difficult to man the car washing centre alone. “Besides, I haven't been paid four months' salary. I come from a poor family with two brothers who are mentally challenged.”

Mumbra’s employer Abdullah bin Salem bin Saeed al Rusheidi denied the former’s charges of assaulting him and non-payment of his salary. He said that Mumbra hadn't paid his landlord four months' rent. “I told him that I can discharge him only after he pays off the outstanding rent.”

Regarding the non-payment of salary, Rusheidi said that Mumbra had not handed over money from washing cars for six months.