I don't think he was degrading the work. The definition of "menial" is: "of or relating to servants" He was saying that many of the Indians there are working

I don't think he was degrading the work. The definition of "menial" is: "of or relating to servants" He was saying that many of the Indians there are working under conditions that can make it impossible to leave weather they would like to or not. That is not a comment on Indians in general nor on the value of digging ditches. Rather it seems to be a comment on the terrible societal problems in Dubai.