Construction workers hold protests in two emirates

Dubai/Sharjah: The two emirates witnessed three protests yesterday morning as workers from several companies demanded their dues or a salary increase.

More than 700 construction workers protested at the National Paints Roundabout in Sharjah over non-payment of salaries. The workers claimed they had not received their salaries for three months and demanded immediate payments of their dues. The local authorities could not take any action to solve the labour dispute as the company is registered in Dubai and Sharjah police were available only to ensure that no violence broke out.

The workers were advised to file a complaint at the Ministry of Labour in Dubai.

Around the same time, some 400 workers of a contracting company protested in Al Ghusais against labour fees and living expenses being deducted from their salaries.

Lieutenant Riyad Al Shafi, representative of Dubai Police Human Rights Department and Member of the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs in Dubai (PCLAD), told Gulf News that it is illegal to make workers pay for their own work permit fees and it is the company's responsibility to pay for the cost of labour accommodation.

Promise

"We made it very clear to the management that they are the ones responsible for the costs which they are forcing their workers to pay and the company agreed to pay back the money that has been deducted," he said.

Around 20 factory workers at a Dubai-based aluminium company in Al Quoz refused to work, demanding a salary increase.

The workers claimed the management had not fulfilled its promise to give all workers a salary increment. A PCLAD member said it was not the responsibility of the committee to arbitrate salary negotiations.

However, after holding talks with the company representative workers were told that they would receive their outstanding wages.