Stranded expats now find their jobs at risk
EXPENSES DOUBLE AS THEY HAVE TO PAY UP IN DUBAI, BALI
What was meant to be a tropical holiday has turned into a nightmare for several UAE residents who are currently stranded in Bali owing to travel restrictions necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents of various nationalities reached out to Gulf News narrating their struggles of having to pay for their house rent, utility, phone and internet connection in absentia in the UAE while also having to simultaneously pay for their accommodation and food expenses in Bali, Indonesia.
Although many of those stranded are managing to work remotely, they are worried for their jobs if this uncertainty persists. Small business owners are struggling, with no work being commissioned, yet having to pay rent for their house and office space. Others have even been laid off from their jobs while in Bali.
Got the pink slip in Bali
Lana Shevchenko, an Ukrainian who has been a UAE resident for a year, visited Bali on March 15 for a twoweek business trip. However, the events industry professional received the pink slip from her company as soon as she arrived in Bali.
With Ukraine also closing its territory for citizens, Shevchenko’s only option was to spend time in Bali until borders reopen and fly to Dubai where she rents an apartment for which she still pays rent, has her personal belongings and friends.
“I planned to stay here only for two weeks, so I’m running out of money and using my credit card now. I’m still waiting
for my last salary. To save money, I initially stayed in a cheap hostel, but now I’m sharing a villa. I’m cooking at home and buying fruits and vegetables from local people instead of shops,” she told Gulf News.
Double whammy
Natalya Afanasyeva, an expat from Kazakhstan who works in Dubai with Chalhoub Group as a commercial executive, has been stuck in Bali since March 11. A 10-day vacation has now extended into several months with no clarity on when it will end.
“I am still paying my house rent, car loan, DEWA bill, phone and internet bills back in Dubai plus all my expenses in Bali. Although we are not living in Dubai and using these services, we are still receiving bills to pay. I cannot stay in Bali anymore since I don’t have enough money to pay for my second accommodation and food expenses,” she told Gulf News.
In the first month in Bali, Afanasyeva and her friend rented a home for $1,300 (Dh4,774) a month and paid $650 for food (Dh2,400). She changed houses on a weekly basis in the first month hoping the situation would change and she could fly back. In April, she paid more than $1,000 (Dh3,672) for a rented house in Bali while in May, she is paying $650 (Dh2,400). She also needs to set aside Dh3,000 for her monthly house rent in Dubai.
The Kazakhi expat who has been living in Dubai for 12 years said her employer has been paying her the fully salary without any deduction so far.
Although Afanasyeva has tried filling up the Twajudi form on the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website several times, there has been no response and she is waiting to get an approval before booking a ticket on Etihad’s flight from Jakarta to the UAE on May 29. “A one-way air ticket from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi costs almost Dh4,000,” she pointed out.