UAE | Employment
Workers seek better living conditions
Workers for a Dubai-based construction company yesterday blocked the Emirates Road near Sonapur for about ten minutes to draw attention to their living conditions.
- By Wafa Issa and Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporters
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Dubai: Workers for a Dubai-based construction company yesterday blocked the Emirates Road near Sonapur for about ten minutes to draw attention to their living conditions.
The Egyptian workers from Al Huda construction company who were shifted from their labour accommodation on Tuesday following a fight with their Indian colleagues over the use of cold water had to spend the night outdoors in one of the company's accommodations in Sonapur.
"After complaining to the company numerous times and being ignored, we decided to take to the streets," said one of the workers, adding that the workers feel the company has broken its promises.
A police official told Gulf News that some of the 250 workers had slept in a parking lot outside one of the labour accommodations. "I saw the mattresses rolled and kept outside the living quarters when I came here early in the morning after receiving complaints from the workers," he said.
Allegations denied
A company representative, who refused to be named, denied the allegations. The workers were drying their mattresses, he said. However, he admitted that the workers had to sleep "under special conditions" for the night as their new quarters were yet not ready.
"Most of our belongings are left outside, including food," said another worker, pointing to rotting food lying outside.
Major Humaid Abdullah, the Deputy Director of Al Ghusais Police Station, asked the workers to remain calm.
The workers were later put on company buses and escorted by police to their new living quarters.
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