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Discuss this article (23 Comments)Al Habtoor to offer new pay rewards for labourers
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Wednesday, 02 September 2009
LOW PAY: Al Habtoor is implementing a new incentive scheme to give labourers the opportunity to earn more money. (Getty Images)
Al Habtoor, the Middle East construction giant whose workers took to Dubai’s streets to protest against low wages, on Wednesday announced plans for a new incentive scheme that it says will increase labourers’ take-home pay.
“The company is in the process of implementing a new productivity-based incentive scheme, whereby workers are rewarded for increased productivity as opposed to working longer hours,” managing director David Savage said.
“The new scheme is expected to result in workers increasing - not decreasing - their take-home pay.”
The company did not explain how individual workers’ productivity would be measured.
Savage, who separately told Associated Press that all staff had returned to work on Wednesday, said becoming more productive did not always mean working harder.
“We don't necessarily need to work harder, we need to work smarter and more efficiently,” he said.
Hundreds of Dubai labourers took to the streets on Monday to demonstrate against low wages and the lack of overtime pay in the city’s troubled construction sector.
Al Habtoor workers told UAE media outlets on Monday that they were currently being paid between AED500 ($136) and AED700 per month.
“What we are ultimately aiming to achieve with our new scheme is a balance between increased productivity on our sites, improved pay for our workers, and a reduction in the amount of overtime worked,” Savage said.
Al Habtoor Engineering is one of the largest construction and engineering companies in the Middle East. The company’s portfolio includes the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai and the adjacent Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Among its current projects is the Paris Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi.
READERS' COMMENTS
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Low salary in construction sector
Posted by Maryam, Dubai, UAE on Friday 4 September 2009 at 12:38 UAE time
To Mounir Abu Dhabi
Mounir, which labours in UAE get 11000 dhs/ month? Are you insane or dreaming? Oh no, you are insane waiting your time to "customize your answer to get people angry" on such a sad subject! Workers to get more than 700dhs/month that's why they could get so many and raise building from sand.
We are all aware of it and by living here we are all contributing to that extreme human use.
Posted by Maryam, Dubai, UAE on Friday 4 September 2009 at 12:38 UAE time
To Mounir Abu Dhabi
Mounir, which labours in UAE get 11000 dhs/ month? Are you insane or dreaming? Oh no, you are insane waiting your time to "customize your answer to get people angry" on such a sad subject! Workers to get more than 700dhs/month that's why they could get so many and raise building from sand.
We are all aware of it and by living here we are all contributing to that extreme human use.
To Pascal & Joe
Posted by Leroy on Thursday 3 September 2009 at 17:32 UAE time
I'm an Indian and my experience here has affirmed my belief that we Indians put ourselves down.
If we were all together demanded a good salary we would surely all be earning well. But what actually happens is we all are so desperate for our self desires we undercut each other.
So if Westerners get good salaries I say Kudos to them for being able to (as their respective nations) keep a standard and not allow themselves to be taken advantage of.
Posted by Leroy on Thursday 3 September 2009 at 17:32 UAE time
I'm an Indian and my experience here has affirmed my belief that we Indians put ourselves down.
If we were all together demanded a good salary we would surely all be earning well. But what actually happens is we all are so desperate for our self desires we undercut each other.
So if Westerners get good salaries I say Kudos to them for being able to (as their respective nations) keep a standard and not allow themselves to be taken advantage of.
Pascal & Discriminations - Nick on Thursday
Posted by Joe Bazooka, Dubai, UK on Thursday 3 September 2009 at 16:04 UAE time
Well, Mr Nick, it is very nice for you to have a company which employs 97% non europeans as you say. However, you did not tell us that those 97% non europeans earn what the 3% europeans do!!!!It is a fact here and in most western countries that blue eyes and blond hair carriers earn far more than others as is they are the choosen ones.
Comprende?????
Posted by Joe Bazooka, Dubai, UK on Thursday 3 September 2009 at 16:04 UAE time
Well, Mr Nick, it is very nice for you to have a company which employs 97% non europeans as you say. However, you did not tell us that those 97% non europeans earn what the 3% europeans do!!!!It is a fact here and in most western countries that blue eyes and blond hair carriers earn far more than others as is they are the choosen ones.
Comprende?????
To Jennifer Grebe
Posted by Dan, Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday 3 September 2009 at 16:03 UAE time
I don’t know how the economics in constructions works in Dubai. But I know a construction worker in Sweden earns about 15000 Dirham/month.
The price of apartments and houses are below or way below the prices in Dubai. The quality of building are above or way above that of Dubai. The standard (what’s included in way of machines and extra luxury such as marble and so on) is at least in per with Dubai.
So how come a villa in the middle of nowhere (Ranches) cost 3 times more compare to Stockholm or other capitals of EU? And general prices all over Dubai are still more expensive even after 50% drop in prices?
This when workers cost so little? EXTREM GREED? You tell me.
Posted by Dan, Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday 3 September 2009 at 16:03 UAE time
I don’t know how the economics in constructions works in Dubai. But I know a construction worker in Sweden earns about 15000 Dirham/month.
The price of apartments and houses are below or way below the prices in Dubai. The quality of building are above or way above that of Dubai. The standard (what’s included in way of machines and extra luxury such as marble and so on) is at least in per with Dubai.
So how come a villa in the middle of nowhere (Ranches) cost 3 times more compare to Stockholm or other capitals of EU? And general prices all over Dubai are still more expensive even after 50% drop in prices?
This when workers cost so little? EXTREM GREED? You tell me.
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