Dubai: The space for each labourer has been doubled from the existing 20 square feet per person to 40 square feet to improve the standard of living at labour accommodations, said a senior official.
"The existing space of 20 square metres per labourer was not much but even then some 90 per cent of the existing camps are violating this rule as most of them are crowded," an official told Gulf News.
It means that if eight people are living in a room, its size should be least 320 square feet. Use of bunk beds have also been barred in the camps.
He said the revised list of specifications for labour accommodation buildings will apply to all new labour accommodations being built in the emirate.
However, it is not clear whether the new rule will apply to the existing labour accommodations. "We are still reviewing the situation but even the existing labour accommodations will have to follow the new list of specification to ensure safety and hygiene of labourers," the official said.
The municipality has also barred companies from keeping labourers in temporary shelters, such as Portakabins. According to the revised list of specifications for labour accommodations, a labour accommodation should have at least one bathroom for every eight labourers - which is the maximum number of labourers that can be accommodated in one room.
No temporary structures shall be used in labour accommodations. Any material that contains asbestos or is harmful to the environment or public health should not be used.
The flooring should be tiled using non-slippery materials that are easy to clean and wash and are not affected by detergents.
Specifications
The labour accommodations should include furniture such as single beds and a clothes cabinet for each labourer. There should be enough ventilation, natural or artificial light, thermal insulation, drainage, water supply, gas, electric supply, fire-safety measures, and health and environment preconditions.
All rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and other halls should be air conditioned as per the prevailing specifications introduced by the municipality.
The common services such as kitchen, multi-purpose halls for dining, watching television, prayer hall, first-aid room, and other service rooms should be on the ground floor.
If there is additional space, after providing all the above services, the same can be utilised for housing the labourers on the ground floor.
Toilets and bathrooms should have clothes hangers, soap containers, exhaust fans, hot water, mirrors, and cabinets.
The water tanks should be covered by sun shades to ensue cool water during summer. Also, there should be enough water coolers in each camp depending on the number of labourers.
The exact number of labour accommodations are not available but there are around 500,000 labourers living in different labour camps in Dubai.
Most violations done by smaller companies
Labourers residing in labour accommodations in Jebel Ali and Sonapur welcomed the municipality specifications issued for their living quarters but expressed scepticism regarding its adherence by companies.
Company representatives however said that violations are done by small players.
Asif Mohammad a Pakistani labourer who lives in Sonapur said that the majority of the accommodations in that area have been upgraded and only a few old ones with asbestos or tin roofing remain.
"The move by Dubai Municipality to maintain international standards at labour accommodations are good but the fear is whether the companies will adhere to regulations," he said.
Mohammad said the main problem they are facing is overcrowded rooms. "For example in my accommodation we are about 12 people. On either sides of the room we have four-level bunk beds. The remaining workers sleep on the floor. There is no room to walk," he added.
Pankaj an Indian worker who is also a resident in one of the accommodations in Sonapur said that the problem started when they were made to make room for newly recruited workers.
He said: "We moved into new accommodations six months ago. Our living conditions are quite okay but we are facing a mosquito menace at night due to the stagnant sewage water."
A company representative who spoke to Gulf News said the municipality conducts supervision on a regular basis.
