7.14 PM Friday, 21 February 2025
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 05:31 06:45 12:35 15:51 18:20 19:34
21 February 2025

Jobseeker beaten up by recruitment firm

Published
By VM Sathish

A jobseeker has filed a police complaint claiming that he was beaten up and mentally harassed by recruitment agents.

Firoz KP, Indian, told Emirates24|7 that he followed up on an advertisement in an English daily on November 22 that invited applications for storekeepers. 

"The woman who answered my call said there was a position in her office. And that a confirmation fee of Dh200 was to be paid only if I took up the job. When I admitted I had no money on me, she insisted I give the interview the next day," he said.

Firoz claimed to have cross-checked with the woman if the firm was a recruitment agency, but she insisted it was free zone company.

However, he quickly realised it was recruitment agency, when he arrived at the location in Sharjah. They took Dh50 (the only amount I had on me), photocopies of my passport and certificates and gave me a file number, he added.

The people at the company allegedly told Firoz that they would waive off the Dh9,000 needed for a job visa but he had to pay then Dh300.

"When I said I do not have the money on me and tried walking out of the recruitment office, the staff there took me to another room. And what followed later seemed like a horror story," said Firoz.

"Five people surrounded me and they became hysterical on learning I was on visit visa. I was alone in the room with the six people who physically and mentally abused me. They threatened to cut off my legs and made me do sit-ups.

One of the men picked up a stick and hit the tabletop and the chair I was seated demanding I pay Dh300. I went there to find a job and I was treated like a criminal," Firoz alleged.

Two recruitment firms this website contacted had contrasting views on the subject, though neither had ever heard of a case of someone being beaten up.

Mohammed Khan, a manager at one firm said, "If job seekers are willing to pay, their money is accepted. Otherwise we don’t force them to pay."

Ashok Babu, General Manager, Fast Track Recruitment, Bur Dubai said: “No professional recruitment firm would charge money from candidates. It is to be paid by the company recruiting people."


 

European dies after car plunges in to Ajman sea

Saudi religious police HQ targeted by sex maniacs

Al Sufouh villa break-in culprits confess in court

Man 'harasses' woman using another's SIM card