Construction firm says workers' demands instigated by third party

Dubai: A leading construction company is claiming that its workers who have refrained from going to work are being instigated by a third party.

About 200 to 300 labourers of S.S. Contracting from Sonapur and Sharjah accommodations refrained from going to work yesterday morning demanding 45 days' paid annual leave, annual tickets and a 30 per cent pay rise. They submitted their demands in writing to the company. The letter also spoke about the company refusing to hike their salaries in view of the rising cost of living, despite making several requests.

A copy of the demand letter has been submitted to the Ministry of Labour and the authorities have been informed to take all necessary actions as per UAE law.

In a press statement, Rashid Lootah, the executive director of S.S. Lootah Contracting, said that the fact that their workforce did not go on strike to demand better living conditions or timely payment of wages is proof in itself that the labourers have been instigated by a third party with questionable motives and intentions towards the stability and growth of the country.

Guidelines

He said: "Such a strike, especially uncalled for demands such as these is an illegal act. The company has not defaulted in its timely payment of wages to our labourers in its 50-year history. The facilities at our camps meet all the statutory guidelines set by the Ministry of Labour. We also scrutinise all our subcontractors to make sure that they do not violate any of our labour ethics."

Lootah said that their Contracting Company was the first to have introduced a minimum wage policy under which a new labourer earns a minimum of Dh1,000 a month besides other financial benefits that come in the form of non-refundable cash grants, overtime payments and bonuses reaching upto Dh1,500 a month on average. "We are also proud of our unique initiatives for our workers like setting up our own medical centre for the labourers and a dedicated social fund to support our labourers during crisis, a recent instance was helping Bangladeshi workers through this fund during cyclone 'Sidr' that hit the country last November," said Lootah.