Dubai Municipality gets tougher with unlicensed workers

Dubai The Municipality of Dubai said it has rounded up 326 unlicensed street vendors and car washers, and beggars in April.

Obaid Ebrahim Marzouqi, Head of Markets Management Section at Dubai Municipality, said the move against the law-breakers had also resulted in the seizure of several low-quality goods and pirated CDs.

Counterfeit goods

"A total of 4,389 counterfeit products including ready-made garments, perfumes, cameras, and watches that were fake international brands were confiscated. Also, some 3,822 DVDs with pirated films, pornographic movies, in addition to 197 foodstuff items including boxes of fruits and vegetables were seized last month," he added.

The civic body will hand over the illegal workers for deportation.

In 2011, the Municipality caught 4,200 illegal labourers in 2011 and seized around 79,000 different types pirated goods including films.

In cooperation with the Dubai Police and Department of Residence and Foreign Affairs, Dubai, conducted campaigns throughout the year to nab unlicensed workers and fake goods.

"Civic inspectors conduct daily spot checks in streets and public places to prevent street vending, begging and car washing in public places by individuals in violation of the ruling by the Ministry of Labour in this regard. Inspectors at the Control Unit of the Markets Administration Section in the Assets Management Department carry out regular checks to take rigid action against the violators," Ebrahim said.