Service centres to educate workers about their rights

Dubai: Service centres to educate workers on their rights and duties will be established in labour accommodation areas this year.

The Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs in Dubai (PCLAD) will set up the centres which will help workers know their rights as part of the committee's drive to improve workers' condition in the country.

Brigadier Mohammad Al Merri, Chairman of PCLAD, said lack of awareness was always a major hurdle when trying to solve labour disputes.

The committee has helped solved more than 100 labour disputes involving more than 81,000 workers last year. However, not a single protest over non-payment of salaries has been registered, according to PCLAD's statistics.

"There is an urgent need to spread awareness among workers and this can only be done by setting up centres near their accommodation so we can be in close contact with the workers," said Al Merri adding that the latest wave of protests demanding a salary increase is a clear indication that workers do not know their rights and duties.

Clarify

Three centres will be set up in the three main areas for labour accommodation in Dubai, namely Jebel Ali, Al Quoz and Al Qusais and members of the committee will always be available to lend a hand to workers.

Workers will be able to clarify about the labour rules and regulations as well as ask for assistance in solving problems with employers. "Having offices in labour accommodations areas will also help us intervene in case of disputes and try to find solutions in an early stage," said Al Merri. This initiative comes as part of PCLAD's plan to intensify their activities as a study to give more authority to the committee is under way at Dubai Executive Council, according to Al Merri.

Moreover, some 100 labour accommodations in Dubai will be checked each month this year to ensure standards of workers' living conditions. PCLAD, will intensify its inspection campaigns on labour accommodations to ensure that companies are meeting health and safety regulations. The committee inspected some 318 labour accommodations last year, out of which 113 were found to be in bad condition.

"We have called upon companies that are not adhering to the rules and notified them," said Al Merri, adding that the committee reports companies that repeat the violations to the ministry of labour and municipality so that they can take necessary measures.

Some 71 reports have been sent to the different governmental bodies asking them to take necessary measures, according to PCLAD statistics.