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Discuss this article (13 Comments)Labour camp at centre of BBC row to close in 2 months
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Thursday, 16 April 2009
CAMP LIFE: A labourer on cleaning duty at the Nad al Sheba camp in Dubai. (ITP Images)
The Dubai labour camp at the centre of a undercover BBC documentary will be shut down within two months, its manager said on Thursday.
The 6,000 workers based at Nad al Sheba, the largest camp operated by Arabtec Construction, would be moved to a new camp near Arabian Ranches, Tariq Salar told Arabian Business.
Secret cameras from the Panorama programme filmed overflowing raw sewage leaking through the camp.
Related: IN PICS: Inside Dubai's labour camps
Related: Live from Dubai's labour camps
In the documentary, screened in the UK last week, one worker complained the toilets were so filthy they were unusable and about garbage and water blocking the roads around the camp.
Since the unauthorised visit by the film crew, security had been tightened up, camp security officer Richard Robertson, told Arabian Business.
During a tour of the camp with our reporter on Thursday, he said extra measures had been implemented at the three entry points to the camp following the breach which, he said, took place shortly after he had clocked off duty.
Robertson said it was not possible for anyone without permission to enter the camp, which is surrounded by a high metal fence.
He admitted a lot of sewage was around the camp at the time of the BBC visit.
A new manhole had been dug to store the sewage in the last three months as the previous one offered insufficient capacity, Robertson said.
During our visit, a worker was in the process of cleaning the toilets but our reporter said that flies were a problem in the toilet area.
Salar said the camp was a temporary camp while Arabtec Construction, the largest listed contractor in the UAE, completed work on building the nearby Dubai racecourse.
Meydan Group in January terminated Arabtec's $1.3bn joint contract with Malaysia’s WCT Bhd to build the racecourse in Dubai, citing delays to delivery of the scheme ahead of its opening for the Dubai World Cup horse race in 2010.
Salar said the new camp was currently being built.
In a strong response to the findings of the programme last week, Arabtec CEO Riad Kamal accused Panorama of being unfair in its reporting of the living and working conditions of workers.
“They have been very unfair not only to Arabtec but to Dubai,” he added.
Arabtec, one of the largest contractors in the UAE which employs a total of 62,000 people, has more than 20 camps in Dubai and Abu Dhabi which Kamal claimed were cleaned daily.
To read Tom Arnold's blog from his tour of Arabtec labour camps, click here.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
dubai labour camps ??
Posted by gerry, chester, United Kingdom on Tuesday 21 April 2009 at 16:05 UAE time
Hi Guys,
I initially commented on the Dubai work camps being better than what I have had the pleasure of working in the past.
The reported problems are nothing NEW in todays market place.
I have had experience in these matters and if You give me an email, I will send You photos of the worst cases I have sorted out and turned the job around. The REMEDY is available for ALL concerned. MRSA/HIV/ Health & Safety standards COSHH.Approved.
Gerry Capaldi
FRICS MBICSc
Posted by gerry, chester, United Kingdom on Tuesday 21 April 2009 at 16:05 UAE time
Hi Guys,
I initially commented on the Dubai work camps being better than what I have had the pleasure of working in the past.
The reported problems are nothing NEW in todays market place.
I have had experience in these matters and if You give me an email, I will send You photos of the worst cases I have sorted out and turned the job around. The REMEDY is available for ALL concerned. MRSA/HIV/ Health & Safety standards COSHH.Approved.
Gerry Capaldi
FRICS MBICSc
Metal fence?
Posted by gamby on Monday 20 April 2009 at 09:43 UAE time
Why do they have to put that? Anyway, it is an open knowledge to everyone that ever since they are always trying to establish a clean image, every time a negative report is leaking out they always say that it is unfair, that other country is much worse than them, that they are envy of country's success, that the condition of the poor workers here are much better than in their homeland, that if they don't like it they can go back to their country anytime. A typical stupid response just to cover up the mess. First of all, since when it is unfair to expose inhumane living condition? Is it because in their country they are living poor they should have the same thing and treatment here also? At least make it livable for human. A modern day slavery! Cleaning up and inviting the press won't do any good. It is already exposed! Faking it is more annoying!
Posted by gamby on Monday 20 April 2009 at 09:43 UAE time
Why do they have to put that? Anyway, it is an open knowledge to everyone that ever since they are always trying to establish a clean image, every time a negative report is leaking out they always say that it is unfair, that other country is much worse than them, that they are envy of country's success, that the condition of the poor workers here are much better than in their homeland, that if they don't like it they can go back to their country anytime. A typical stupid response just to cover up the mess. First of all, since when it is unfair to expose inhumane living condition? Is it because in their country they are living poor they should have the same thing and treatment here also? At least make it livable for human. A modern day slavery! Cleaning up and inviting the press won't do any good. It is already exposed! Faking it is more annoying!
At the expense of
Posted by prasad on Sunday 19 April 2009 at 19:52 UAE time
The property dealers and developers are making money at the expense of the hard toiling workers, who construct excellent accommodation for the privileged by themselves dwelling in ridiculous conditions...........having sacrificed their social life back home......coming to the Gulf with colourful dreams........... living in pathetic conditions and cursing their fate.
Posted by prasad on Sunday 19 April 2009 at 19:52 UAE time
The property dealers and developers are making money at the expense of the hard toiling workers, who construct excellent accommodation for the privileged by themselves dwelling in ridiculous conditions...........having sacrificed their social life back home......coming to the Gulf with colourful dreams........... living in pathetic conditions and cursing their fate.
Confusing..
Posted by ametis, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 19 April 2009 at 14:42 UAE time
Can at least one of the experts who keep writting here, that the labourers have better accomodation in raw sewega environment please explain to me how they know this fact??
Did they live in such and environment so they have first hand experience??
Or are they just being "He who knows the price of everything, knows the value of Nothing??"
I grew up in humble environment, but trust me it was not amongst raw sewage...
Nor do I belive for one moment that there are anyone who willingly lives in such conditions...
Chris and Guita ablove quote that the labourers have better conditions in raw seweage environment than they did at their homelands//
PROVE it or stop being a moron
Posted by ametis, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 19 April 2009 at 14:42 UAE time
Can at least one of the experts who keep writting here, that the labourers have better accomodation in raw sewega environment please explain to me how they know this fact??
Did they live in such and environment so they have first hand experience??
Or are they just being "He who knows the price of everything, knows the value of Nothing??"
I grew up in humble environment, but trust me it was not amongst raw sewage...
Nor do I belive for one moment that there are anyone who willingly lives in such conditions...
Chris and Guita ablove quote that the labourers have better conditions in raw seweage environment than they did at their homelands//
PROVE it or stop being a moron
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