In a first ruling of its kind, a Dubai court has sentenced 45 Indian workers to six months in jail each for “endangering public security and damaging properties” during a strike and ordered their deportation after serving the jail term.

The workers were protesting in view of their low salaries. The Dubai Court of Misdemeanour said in its ruling on Thursday that the 45 workers will be deported after they complete their jail terms.

Observers said this is the first time workers have been jailed for resorting to strike. They were charged with holding an unauthorised labour strike which turned violent, inciting hundreds of other workers to strike for seeking increase in their salaries, Gulf News said in its website on Sunday. Jassem Baqer, Head of Dubai Criminal Court, said: “I believe this is the first ruling of its kind which sends a strong message to workers who resort to illegal methods to get their rights from their employers.”