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Brick by brick, the dreams collapsed

Now, as Hussain prepares to go back home, courtesy amnesty, the dreams have been replaced by worries. What will he do now? How will he face his family? What happens to his dream house?

Hussain says life in the UAE has been very difficult for him. “I was initially employed as a mason by a construction company at a monthly salary of Dh700. For a year everything went fine. I was being able to save money. I was paying back my debts. Suddenly, in December last year, the company closed down and all of us (workers) were rendered jobless,” he recalls.

“None of the officials of the company were traceable. They all vanished. The company had paid me the salary till November, 2006. My passport was not to be found as it was with the company. Soon I was wandering on the streets looking for a job. For six months now, I have been working here and there, making between Dh300 and Dh400 a month. Though the amnesty has come to us (illegal workers) as a big boon, I really wanted to stay here, work, and realise my dreams,” he rues.

“I have got a small piece of land in my village. I also wanted to construct a house on this land. In October last year, the first bricks were laid for the house construction. But after this, the work never started as there was no money. I have to pay back money to the moneylenders. Anyway, I want to be with my family,” he says.

• UAE