Lesson in compassion

When this month got going with a spring, the residents of Dubai were treated to a lesson in the economics of compassion. Your reporter believes that it was compassion primarily, far ahead of pragmatism, that made General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum take the stand he did over the transport of expatriate workers in the emirate.

Sheikh Mohammed, Dubai's Crown Prince and the UAE's Defence Minister, has changed forever what had been an unacceptable way of transporting workers.

That Dubai has once again led the way in a vital area of everyday life will surprise nobody, given the emirate's reputation for setting the pace. And Dubai's well-wishers, who are legion, won't be out of place in anticipating more of the same in other areas of expatriate life. It is trite but true that in any part of the planet, laws, regulations and governments that care are needed to deter what is always a minority in a segment of an economy that needs to be reminded about their social obligations.

Some of these worthies are vociferous when it has to do with workers' output, efficiency, commitment and all the rest of it. The same fellows prefer the sound of silence regarding their workers' basic rights.

In this regard, a recent programme on a local radio station served to reinforce what a few commentators had come to suspect : a disturbing mindset among a few employers and managers in the Emirates and the Gulf at large.

One such worthy, contributing his few fils' worth to a discussion on working and living conditions of labourers such as accommodation, had no qualms in pointing out that most of them came from the Indian sub-continent,where they "were used to worse conditions." In his book, it was OK to house these workers eight to a room or 20 to a shed or whatever because it would be an improvement on what they had left behind.

Instances of labourers and other staff at any number of firms not getting their wages on time are numerous. Some companies also have a tardy record in coming through with air tickets and even end-of-term benefits. In such cases, however, workers have recourse to the law.

Where they are more exposed to exploitation is in such (hidden?) areas as accommodation, work site safety and hours of work. How safe are some construction sites for instance, especially in the case of high rises? It is not uncommon to see workers on some of these projects not sporting a safety helmet. Even if they do, the quality of the product is questionable. The media has drawn attention before to sub-standard helmets that fall far short of safety regulations. It seems there will have to be regulations governing these areas too.

Those who are in need of having these things spelled out to them, should not be kept waiting. Because, quite apart from failing to do what is right, such firms can cause a great deal of damage to the emirate's image. It is an image which encapsulates the elements needed to deliver Dubai's niche in an era of globalisation. An image which, even as you read this, is increasingly drawing more than a little envy in many parts of the world.