Dubai:Appreciating the pivotal role labourers played in building the infrastructure of Dubai, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has decorated workers through various initiatives.
As part of its International Workers Day celebrations, RTA felicitated workers on road projects as well as cleaners at its various facilities by offering them free regular medical check ups, breakfast packages as well as gift hampers.
The authority has tied up with several clinics and food suppliers to facilitate the programme in a professional way.
“RTA is keen on felicitating all individuals contributing directly or indirectly to realising its strategic objectives represented in constructing infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and tunnels among others — which echoes the responsibility we perceive and the role we play in fostering the social solidarity amongst various community members,” said Engineer Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.
“Events held to honour workers this year, which have been coordinated by the Community Service Team at the Traffic & Roads Agency, targeted workers serving at roads & maintenance projects undertaken by the RTA in Dubai as well as cleaning staff in RTA Head Office at Umm Al Ramool. The number of workers benefiting from RTA initiatives in 2013 has soared by as much as 49% from 516 workers in 2012 to 1015 workers in 2013, comprising 890 workers at construction sites, 100 cleaning staff, and 15 maintenance workers.
She said RTA has tied up with organisations like Majid Al Futtaim Charity Foundation, Al Marai, AECOM as well as Easter and EMC medical firms to realise its welfare programmes.
“These celebrations which coincide with the International Workers Day are just natural rights enshrined in the teachings of Islam, which calls for dignified treatment and care for workers and introduced plenty of principles exhorting followers to ensure the welfare and the respectful treatment of workers and above all secure their rights as community members,” Maith explained.
Citing a quote of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, she said: “Workers play a vital role in our communities and some of them spent long years doing their jobs with full devotion, and we ought to thank them for their efforts. We intend to commend and celebrate them and bring to their knowledge that the services they render warrant thanks and appreciation as they have made life in the UAE community smooth and beautiful more than any time before.”
Engineer Maitha called upon staff and government departments and organisations to assign more attention to dealing with workers and according them every respect and appreciation they deserve throughout the year.
“The Traffic and Roads Agency is proceeding ahead with plans for communicating with all partners in the development process at all levels in order to boost the programmes that have positive bearing on the community as a whole,” she stated.
