UAE construction workers' survey paints mixed picture

The UAE’s Ministry of Labour announced on Tuesday it will reveal the findings of a specially commissioned survey into working conditions in the country's construction industry, at the end of the month.

Conducted by Zogby International - the US-based polling organisation - the survey, which was undertaken between April 11 and May 1, polled 752 Asian construction employees currently residing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 3.6 percent.

Respondents were asked about working conditions, satisfaction levels, accommodation standards, quality of general services and the choice of the UAE as a work destination, according to news agency WAM.

''The findings will offer an independent, transparent and reliable account, from the employees' perspectives, of working conditions in the UAE's construction sector,'' said Humaid Bin Deemas, acting Director General of the Ministry of Labour.

According to the report's initial findings, 88 percent of those surveyed held a 'favourable' opinion of the UAE.

In addition, 79 percent said their situation is 'better' than it was before arriving in the country, 69 percent expressed 'satisfaction' with their current role, and 77 percent believed they were 'better off' today than they were five years ago.

However, looking forward to the next five years, the respondents were evenly split as to whether they would be better placed.

The report found wages to be the biggest issue for workers, with 71 percent stating that current salary levels were 'poor'.

On the other hand, workers were more than 'satisfied' with other working conditions, such as safety (81 percent), promptness of payment (70 percent) and health services (64 percent). But housing conditions only received a 50 percent rating, however.

When asked whether they would stay in their current employment, 57 percent said they would, whilst nearly all those looking to change jobs wanted to remain in the UAE.

The report also addressed the issue of recruitment practices in workers' home countries, with transparency an area giving cause for concern.

Only 41 percent of respondents rated the recruiter's honesty as 'acceptable'. However, 63 percent rated the quality of the information provided by the recruiter as 'good', with 80 percent believing their job was 'exactly the same' or 'very similar' to the one described to them when hired.

In terms of recruiter fees, 52 percent believed charges were 'high' or 'very high', although 98 percent confirmed that they did not owe recruiters any money.

Finally, when asked what was important to them in terms of improving the quality of their lives, 76 percent said it was important to visit their families more regularly, while 97 percent wanted to call home more frequently.

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