Should i get my passport because they haven't given me a contract yet?

Question

I am working for a company in the UAE They got my passport and they said they need it to apply a labor card. after a few weeks they are forcing me to sign in a contract where the original offer was way low. I didnt sign it and i said how come you have a contract for me but i didnt get any offer letter? so i didnt sign it and they said will talk to management. 5weeks has passed and still i am waiting. I asked them to release my passport and they said they will only issue me a copy. I am feeling uncomfortable&insecure by not having my passport. what must i do? i know it is illegal for employers to keep their employees passport but i must reason out why i would like to get my passport. by the way, ever since i came i was working for the company and just getting an allowance. what must i tell them?

Answer 1

Yeah, you are applying western standards to the third world, and thats what UAE is no matter how rich it appears. contact your countries consolut immediately and begin a paper trail of this incident, dont put yourself in any situtation in which you may be physically compromised. Your gut is your instinct which more powerful than you can imagine. trust it and you will stay out of harms way. dont tell your company anything until you are free and clear to leave.