Dubai court of Misdemeanour on Monday has sentenced 45 Indian workers to six months in jail each for “damaging public properties” during a strike & ordered their deportation after serving the jail term.

The workers were protesting against their low salaries. Observers said that this is the first time in Dubai that workers have been jailed for resorting to strike. The workers were charged with holding an unauthorised labour strike which turned into violent, inciting hundreds of other workers to strike against their employers.

“I believe this is the first ruling of its kind which sends a strong message to workers who resort to illegal methods to get their rights from their employers”, Jassem Baqer, Head of Dubai Criminal Court said.