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A large number of Bangladeshi taxi drivers employed under Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) have expressed concern and frustration over a newly imposed accommodation fee ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 9,000. The drivers claim they are being asked to pay for a period during which they were unable to work due to administrative procedures and mandatory training, circumstances they say were beyond their control.
According to the affected drivers, they were promised attractive salaries, better working conditions, and various employment benefits by recruitment agencies and sub-agents before leaving Bangladesh. They also allege that in many cases they were not fully informed about the terms and conditions of their employment contracts.
The drivers said they spent between BDT 350,000 and BDT 550,000 on recruitment-related expenses in Bangladesh. After arriving in Dubai, they incurred additional costs for licensing, training, permits, administrative fees, and other formalities. The newly imposed accommodation charges of AED 5,000 to AED 9,000 have further increased their financial burden.
They estimate that the total cost of securing employment in Dubai has now reached approximately AED 25,000 to AED 30,000, equivalent to around BDT 1.2 million to BDT 1.5 million. As a result, many drivers are still struggling to repay loans and are finding it difficult to send sufficient money to support their families back home.
Several drivers also claimed they have not received the level of support they expected from the relevant authorities. They have called on the Bangladesh government, the Bangladesh Consulate and Embassy in the UAE, and the concerned recruitment agencies to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
The allegations presented in this report are based on statements made by the affected drivers. Responses from Dubai Taxi Company, the recruitment agencies involved, and the relevant Bangladeshi authorities were not available at the time of publication. Their comments will be included if received.
