Don't shoot the messengers

The recent demonstrations and violence by some labourers in the UAE are alarming and disturbing. They are alarming in that workers have thought it necessary to take recourse to such action. They are disturbing because there are many people officials and media alike apparently in denial that the strikes are spontaneous and motivated by a desire to achieve better working conditions and pay.

Accusations are being made that a "selfish few" are geared to destroying the good name of Dubai, but it may hold good in only a few cases. For there are too many instances where workers have found it necessary to make representations to the labour ministry or their embassies in an attempt to get what are their undeniable rights.

If an employer is contracted to provide salary, food and accommodation to the workers, then that is what should be provided at a reasonable standard. Expecting labourers, after toiling in the sun for most of the day, to return to their inferior accommodation and be given inadequate meals, and then keep them waiting several months for their pay, is inhuman. And it is only right that the workers should complain.

Status quo

Unfortunately, in many cases, the avenue of complaint open to them is either not known by them, or blocked by companies' employees anxious to keep the status quo. Thus, thwarted from any recourse, and not able to seek redress of their problems, workers take to protesting by withdrawing their labour. Regrettably, a few volatile ones also resort to damaging property belonging to their employer or other people.

It serves no purpose at all for officials to turn a blind eye to events and claim a few malcontents trying to create mischief start all the troubles. If anything, that is a cop-out, since it is such an easy way to evade responsibility and ways to correct the continuing aggravation.

Cause of envy

The emirates and other Gulf countries have for too long relied on very cheap Asian labour to build and service the ultramodern cities that have burgeoned in the region. With five-star hotels, clubs, luxury residential accommodation and air-conditioned offices, those who built such edifices are unable to enjoy the benefits thereof.

It is only natural within man's make-up that envy will exist when confronted with such glamour on a daily basis, and then to contrast it with how they are "existing" for it cannot be called living.

It is only natural that in the fullness of time, such envy will lead to resentment and, if compounded by persistent delays in receiving pay and poor living quarters, that resentment will lead to some form of action being taken.

Recently a contractor was quoted as saying it is common practice in the building industry for the employer to withhold one or two month's pay as a form of security deposit against the labourer.

If that is so, then it is a practice that is in contravention of the UAE Labour Laws, which specifically state that a person should be paid in accordance with their contract (usually on a monthly basis). Islam also dictates that if a labourer is worthy of his hire, he should be paid "before the sweat on his brow is dry".

There are too many companies flouting the labour laws and getting away with it through inadequate government supervision. The labour department would have us believe there is insufficient staff to be able to check all the companies effectively. The same labour department is asking private industry to absorb the vast pool of unemployed national youth in the country. The two positions do not equate.

For some persons to blame the media for blowing the workers' situation out of proportion is the old story of shooting the messenger: It will not work. With the development of the Dubai Media City and half the world's press represented there, and the repeated calls for more press freedoms in the Arab world, hiding ongoing events is a recipe for disaster and dishonesty.

The emirates is now a global force, and growing more so. It cannot expect news like the plight of workers or any other problem perceived as bad publicity will never reach the media.

It will, and it is no good hiding our heads in the sand in the hope it will go away. It will not.