UAE | Employment
From open tent to proper shelter
A construction company has moved its workers from an open tent to proper accommodation and also helped send eight workers home on Wednesday, following a report by Gulf News.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:15 February 7, 2008
- The workers were forced to live in a tent after they protested against working on a construction site.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Dubai: A construction company has moved its workers from an open tent to proper accommodation and also helped send eight workers home on Wednesday, following a report by Gulf News.
But a senior executive of Dubai Nova Construction alleged that the workers refused to work from the moment they stepped off the plane. "We called their agent but he arrived after 15 days," said Atul Sinha, director, business development and administration of the company.
The workers had been forced to live in a tent by their employer in Al Sajja, the workers said.
Sinha said one night the workers had slept in the corridor of the accommodation. "We offered to move them to our accommodation in Ajman but they refused to move," he said.
The workers from India said their recruiters had promised them work as grocery shop attendants and as cleaners, janitors and porters at the airport.
They said their recruiters instead asked them to work as construction workers and did not expect to do "tough tasks at construction sites". After complaining and asking to be sent back home, the workers said the company moved them from their accommodation to an open tent. They also said they were not given food, water or blankets, despite the cold weather.
"Why will I feed them if they refuse to work? Why will I let them sit in the workers' accommodation if they are creating problems for us?" said Sinha. "No one is protecting our rights as employees. Why is no proper accommodation for workers being built?"
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Workers forced to live in freezing tent by recruiter
Workers forced to live in freezing tent by recruiter
More from UAE Employment
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Shaikh Khalifa receives Rulers
- Pleasant holiday weather predicted
- UAE residents offer Eid morning prayers
- UAE rejects Israeli colonies
- Teens smoking secretly, unchecked
- Right cut for diabetes respite
- Eid Al Adha: Duty and sacrifice
- Hospital's diabetes awareness programme extended
- Court acquits maid of theft charge
- Teenager jailed after having sex with minor
- Transit passenger jailed for drug smuggling
- Slew of celebration plans
- No decision on ex-Syrian intelligence officer
- Ex-Syrian intelligence officer won't be extradited
- Transport authority launches 'no to accidents' campaign
Community Reports
-
Munching on a health hazard
Residents must be careful about consuming snacks and sandwiches prepared along the roadside as they attract dirt and bacteria
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
-
Noise pollution must be regulated
Residents are finding it difficult to sleep well at night owing to ongoing construction work
-
Protect our children's health
Dust and dirt from a nearby road are causing problems to those frequenting Al Nasseriya park, Sharjah.
