The epidemic of suicides of migrant workers in the UAE continues unabated: on June 13, UAE papers reported about two suicides of Ethiopian migrant workers.
At 4pm on June 11, police rushed to a house in Ras al-Khaimah where a 29-year-old Ethiopian maid attempted to end her life - Opens in new tab by overdosing on pills. She was taken to the hospital in time. Just 12 hours following this suicide attempt, an 28-year-old Ethiopian woman jumped to her death - Opens in new tabfrom the third floor of a building in the Mussallah area in Sharjah. The report also mentions the death of a 50-year-old Indian man who "fell" to his death from the 11th floor of a building al-Khan area in Sharjah.
Recently the suicide of a migrant worker who jumped - Opens in new tabto his death from Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, has shed light on this alarming phenomenon. Among Indian migrants alone, 26 - Opens in new tabhave committed suicide in 2011. Migrant workers are often driven to suicide as a result of poor working conditions, abusive employers and heavy debt due to exploitation of recruitment agencies.