UAE's Construction Worker Issues

[DUBAI]

flamable?????

[Naz UK]

Post-whoring at its best, if i ever saw it.

[Tractor]

You two are as bad as each other ... in fact you could be both the same person with split personalities as far as i can tell!!

[fahed]

GUYS! calm down

[Naz UK]

LOL there goes your chances of becoming a Mod, Dubai!

[Naz UK]

OK, back to the issue, on a more serious note...just seen this in KT:

UAE to allow workers unions by end of year
By Eman Al Baik

31 March 2006



DUBAI — In what is decidedly a major policy decision, a "proposed labour law guaranteeing the right to strike and worker representation through workers' organisations will be put before the (UAE) cabinet by summer, according to the UAE Labour Minister, Dr Ali Abdullah Al Kaabi.


Khaleej Times, it may be recalled, in an exclusive news item published on May 31, 2002, reported that "The UAE is initiating measures to allow formation of workers' organisations in the country" and that the Labour Ministry, following discussions with the International Labour Organisation, intended to significantly amend the Labour Law No 8 of 1980 accordingly.

Under the new labour law amendment proposals, it is expected that while the workers will be permitted to form unions and have worker representation through workers' organisations, these unions will function in a manner similar to those of non-profitable societies, according to Labour Ministry sources.

Interestingly, the draft reportedly includes a clause, which regulates and legalises peaceful protests by workers. The new regulation will permit a recognised representative of the protesters to talk to and deal with the authorities concerned, so that the latter can get a clear idea of the demands of any protesting workers and address the problem accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Minister, while speaking to a section of the press, categorically rejected as "insane and illogical" the allegations contained in a recent US-based Human Rights Watch report which suggested the UAE government was turning "a blind eye" to the basic rights of (mainly foreign migrant) workers and labourers in the country. The HRW report also claimed that “one of the world’s largest construction booms” was “feeding off of workers in Dubai, but they’re treated as less than human.” The rights group said migrants comprise around 90 percent of the 1.7 million eork force in the Emirates.

Commenting strongly on the totally unsubstantiated charges in the HRW report, Al Kabbi, was quoted as saying "to link what happened (protests) to the construction boom in the country - which represents a sign of progress in the region is "devious, illogical and insane."

For instance, the HRW report cited low pay, failure to pay wages and “as many as 880 deaths... at construction sites in 2004.” But government figures show that only 34 people died on construction sites in 2004.

Al Kaabi also dismissed a public protest last week at the site of what will be the world’s tallest skyscraper as a protest in which workers “were not demanding their rights.” Around 2,500 mostly Asian workers at the site of the prestigious Burj Dubai project, according to a news reports, had protested over pay and work conditions. Some turned violent, smashing cars and offices causing damage estimated at one million dollars.

The demonstration then sparked a strike on a construction site where workers are enlarging Dubai’s international airport.

Al Kaabi said, "It has been proven that the companies concerned completely respect their commitments and their contracts” with workers.

However, the Minister added, “We are not saying that infractions do not exist. There surely are some and we deal with them as necessary according to the law and with respect to human rights."

“But to forget the positives and concentrate on infractions while ignoring the efforts made to fix them is unjust and arbitrary,” Kaabi protested justifiably.

Labour Ministry sources said yesterday that once the labour laws of the country are amended, "Labourers in different sectors will be able to discuss and debate their work-related problems, suggest solutions and proposals to enhance their performance, and also highlight issues related to their financial security and general work conditions."

It has taken about seven years to prepare these major Labour Law draft amendments. The former minister of Labour Matar Humaid Al Tayer, in the late 90s, had initially drafted these amendments in coordination with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the International Labour Organisaiton, and the Arab Labour Organisation. Al Tayer had then also forwarded the amendment draft to the Legislation Committee of the Ministry of Justice.

Barely a few days after joining the Labour Ministry on November 11 2004, Al Ka'abi ordered a much-needed review of the proposed amendments in the Labour Law, "in light of the recent changes and developments witnessed in the labour market in the UAE.", according to ministry sources.

Al Kaabi will now discuss the draft amendment proposals with officials from the apex Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Economic Departments in the country, before making his own notings and forwarding it to the Federal Cabinet for its approval and sanction, before the start of the summer vacation.

[smussuw]

it is the first time a minister comment after a international report comes out

perhaps one of Sheikh Mohammed's blessings?

[dubaiflo]

probably.

interesting read.

i doubt this will be like a real union though.

did you post it in world forums..

[smussuw]

I read that the Emirati National Securtiy body is heavily involved in this law (as anything federal or related to Abu Dhabi)

maybe it would be a decoration like the Abu Dhabi chamber elections

[Naz UK]

I think its great news. Finally, we might be getting somewhere!

[Krazy]

HRW blasts work conditions in booming UAE


Dubai is booming while workers' conditions are worsening

Human rights group says foreign laborers are treated as less than human, urges UAE government to improve their conditions.


DUBAI - The New York-based Human Rights Watch has blasted the United Arab Emirates, currently in the midst of a major construction boom, for abusing the rights of predominantly foreign laborers.

"One of the world's largest construction booms is feeding off of workers in Dubai, but they're treated as less than human," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch.

"It's no surprise that some workers have started rioting in protest."

Last week in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, 2,500 mostly Asian workers at the site of the Burj Dubai protested over pay and work conditions with some turning violent and smashing cars and offices, causing damage estimated at one million dollars.

The government responded by promising to prosecute those who took part in the demonstration at the construction site of what will be the world's tallest skyscraper, and threatened the workers with deportation if they did not resume work.

"The government is turning a blind eye to a huge problem," said Whitson. "If it doesn't start taking drastic new steps to improve conditions, further unrest seems inevitable."

The group also reported "as many as 880 deaths occurred at construction sites in 2004" according to figures derived by surveying embassies of countries that have large numbers of workers in the UAE.

Government figures show 34 people died on construction sites in 2004.

Thousands of Asian workers, mostly from India and Pakistan, work at construction sites all over Dubai for average monthly wages of 500 dirhams (136 dollars).

However, employers routinely deny construction workers their wages, and nearly 20,000 workers filed complaints with the government about the non-payment of wages and labor camp conditions last year, HRW said.

HRW said the problem was compounded because many workers take out loans with recruiting forms in their home countries in order to secure employment in the UAE.

Therefore, a large part of a worker's wages go toward repaying the loan each month, "and without wages he falls further into debt. The result is virtual debt bondage," the rights group said.

[smussuw]

"The government is turning a blind eye to a huge problem," said Whitson

The government responded by promising to prosecute those who took part in the demonstration at the construction site of what will be the world's tallest skyscraper, and threatened the workers with deportation if they did not resume work.

"One of the world's largest construction booms is feeding off of workers in Dubai, but they're treated as less than human," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch.


no wonder the Minister complained about this report, too much propaganda I'd say

[smussuw]

Krazy the petition isnt working anymore, check the website.

[Krazy]

Yes I dont know why.... maybe it's an error in their server

[dubaiflo]

that sucks.


the article seemed a bit biased yes,... didn't they force companies to pay their labour after the last riot.

didn't one of the spokesman say they will take care of this issue?

[Bikes]

"This petition was removed because the author did not provide a full valid name. Anonymous petitions are not permitted."

Ehhh

[dubaiflo]

yeah samir, you are cheating. this sucks shit, all the signatures gone

[DUBAI]

If i was a skeptical person, i might suspect that somone or somepeople took some action to acheive a certain ends.

[dubaiflo]

mhm do you really think so?

no.. i doubt that..

anyway. cool avatar.

[DUBAI]

I finaly found mspaint!