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Discuss this article (7 Comments)53% of people appalled by labour camp conditions
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 06 September 2009
LABOUR FORCE: 53 percent of people think the treatment of labourers is terrible. (AFP)
More than half of people think the treatment of construction labourers across the Gulf is appalling, according to the results of an online poll.
The Arabian Business survey found that 53 percent of respondents thought labour camp conditions were dreadful and pay was too low.
On Monday, hundreds of construction workers took to the streets in Dubai to protest over pay and the lack of overtime.
Labourers for Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises stopped work and halted traffic in Deira and Jebel Ali at around 8am. A subsequent Ministry of Labour investigation cleared the firm of any wrongdoing.
Al Habtoor has since announced plans for an incentive scheme that it says will increase labourers take-home pay. Protesting workers from the company told local media on Monday they earned between AED500 ($136) and AED700 per month.
A spot poll by Arabian Business last week found that only 8.5 percent of people thought the treatment of labourers was fair and that they earned much more here than what they could at home.
Some 30.4 percent urged the ministry to increase the number of inspections on worksites and labour camps to improve conditions and monitor companies to ensure better pay.
The ministry has set up a new section which will monitor all UAE labour camps to ensure they reach the same standards in all the emirates.
Only 8.1 percent of people who took part in the poll said that unscrupulous recruitment agents were to blame and must be stopped.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
Hmmm
Posted by BobTheBuilder, Dubai, U.A.E. on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at 04:39 UAE time
This sort of topic is always divisive, as someone inevitably takes it too far.
Reality was talking sense right up until he says "I assume..." in some of the statements that follow, one can be offended. (Note, I'm from London and have seen houses on a par with a camp in terms of cleanliness, with Kerry Katona look-a-likes coming out from them - so it's best not to over generalise really.)
Nevertheless "Reality" does have a point.
I have had the dubious pleasure of spending 6 months in a labour camp in Jebel Ali - behind the church complex. It was pretty clean (as clean as sand and aggregate can be) where the office staff lived, while not so clean where the labourers lived; rubbish, food, clothing, shoes all over the place. Its not even as if there were not enough bins, there were, they were emptied daily too.
Granted there are more labourers per room, (I was on my own and had my own bathroom, while your typical labourer is one of 8 to a room and has to go to a shower block to wash.) but can that really be the only reason?
Yorkshire does make the point of the paltry sums your average labourer makes, which would have something to do with it - boredom and an inability to go out lead me to be pretty lax about the general tidiness when I was younger - these guys are mostly in their early 20's and so I guess would be doing something different "back home".
But to ignore the fact that they actually made the mess themselves (in the case of where I was) is to not address the entire issue. Yes, there are unscrupulous companies out there who cut corners everywhere - they should be named and shamed, fined and made to put their camps right on pain of more fines. However, don't ignore either, the minority like "Reality" who (say they) have done things correctly.
Posted by BobTheBuilder, Dubai, U.A.E. on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at 04:39 UAE time
This sort of topic is always divisive, as someone inevitably takes it too far.
Reality was talking sense right up until he says "I assume..." in some of the statements that follow, one can be offended. (Note, I'm from London and have seen houses on a par with a camp in terms of cleanliness, with Kerry Katona look-a-likes coming out from them - so it's best not to over generalise really.)
Nevertheless "Reality" does have a point.
I have had the dubious pleasure of spending 6 months in a labour camp in Jebel Ali - behind the church complex. It was pretty clean (as clean as sand and aggregate can be) where the office staff lived, while not so clean where the labourers lived; rubbish, food, clothing, shoes all over the place. Its not even as if there were not enough bins, there were, they were emptied daily too.
Granted there are more labourers per room, (I was on my own and had my own bathroom, while your typical labourer is one of 8 to a room and has to go to a shower block to wash.) but can that really be the only reason?
Yorkshire does make the point of the paltry sums your average labourer makes, which would have something to do with it - boredom and an inability to go out lead me to be pretty lax about the general tidiness when I was younger - these guys are mostly in their early 20's and so I guess would be doing something different "back home".
But to ignore the fact that they actually made the mess themselves (in the case of where I was) is to not address the entire issue. Yes, there are unscrupulous companies out there who cut corners everywhere - they should be named and shamed, fined and made to put their camps right on pain of more fines. However, don't ignore either, the minority like "Reality" who (say they) have done things correctly.
Reality
Posted by Reality on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 16:04 UAE time
What's my place ? and what is disgusting ?? I am only pointing out my personal experiences, these are not my opinions merely a relaying of what I have seen and not seen. Be offended if you wish but don't confuse observations of reality with ignorance. These are facts not opinions. Do something about it or get over it and move on.
Posted by Reality on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 16:04 UAE time
What's my place ? and what is disgusting ?? I am only pointing out my personal experiences, these are not my opinions merely a relaying of what I have seen and not seen. Be offended if you wish but don't confuse observations of reality with ignorance. These are facts not opinions. Do something about it or get over it and move on.
Reality
Posted by Zafar Abbas, Canada on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 13:37 UAE time
Yorksire comments from Yorkshire UK are commenable. He has rightly put the writer in his place. the article was disgussting, the wrire seems to be an ignorant person who has been given an opportunity to be journalist by Arabian business.
Posted by Zafar Abbas, Canada on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 13:37 UAE time
Yorksire comments from Yorkshire UK are commenable. He has rightly put the writer in his place. the article was disgussting, the wrire seems to be an ignorant person who has been given an opportunity to be journalist by Arabian business.
Response to reality
Posted by Yorkshire, Yorkshire, UK on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 09:43 UAE time
My respected 'Reality',
I think someone needs a reality check (pardon the pun). As a British citizen and of Pakistani ethnicity i think great offence in your comment that "I have not been in any pakistani households in Burnley Lancs. but I can imagine similar conditions". I found this to be a very provocative and racist expression.
Secondly, did you provide the workers with clearning apparatus and appliances to keep the area clean? or did you expect them to pay it out of the meagre salary you most likely paid them.
Thirdly, Yes they're earning more than they would at home, but they dont live at home. They are living in Dubai, where their paltry $150 wont buy them a slap in the face let alone feeding their families at home.
I find it extremely distasteful and highly irritating that one man can look at another with such disgust.
Have mercy on others and you will have mercy on you.
Posted by Yorkshire, Yorkshire, UK on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at 09:43 UAE time
My respected 'Reality',
I think someone needs a reality check (pardon the pun). As a British citizen and of Pakistani ethnicity i think great offence in your comment that "I have not been in any pakistani households in Burnley Lancs. but I can imagine similar conditions". I found this to be a very provocative and racist expression.
Secondly, did you provide the workers with clearning apparatus and appliances to keep the area clean? or did you expect them to pay it out of the meagre salary you most likely paid them.
Thirdly, Yes they're earning more than they would at home, but they dont live at home. They are living in Dubai, where their paltry $150 wont buy them a slap in the face let alone feeding their families at home.
I find it extremely distasteful and highly irritating that one man can look at another with such disgust.
Have mercy on others and you will have mercy on you.
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