Jail 1 the guards were Emiratis making a really good salary. In the African jail the guards were mostly from Uganda making $500 month. They worked 12 hour shifts starting at 8PM or 8AM. As I had a trip to the ER I came to know a couple of the nightshift guys well as both of them were assigned to guard me while I was chained to a bed; more on that in a different post.
Dave (changing his name to protect the innocent) arrived in the UAE in July. He paid $4500 to get the job that pays $500 month. He will be paying $100 each month to pay off the loan while living with 8 other guys. Time off? Not a day off in 3 months. 12 hours every day for $500/month. $500/360 hours = $1.38 per hour.
Dave can't quit his job until the $4500 is paid off. He is quite literally an indentured servant. As he told me his story I am lying in bed wearing painful ankle shackles and feeling sorry for him. After getting back from the hospital Dave and the rest of the night crew took care of me. They brought some bottled water and vegetables (cucumbers and carrots) each night.
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