From open tent to proper shelter

Dubai: A construction company has moved its workers from an open tent to proper accommodation and also helped send eight workers home on Wednesday, following a report by Gulf News.

But a senior executive of Dubai Nova Construction alleged that the workers refused to work from the moment they stepped off the plane. "We called their agent but he arrived after 15 days," said Atul Sinha, director, business development and administration of the company.

The workers had been forced to live in a tent by their employer in Al Sajja, the workers said.

Sinha said one night the workers had slept in the corridor of the accommodation. "We offered to move them to our accommodation in Ajman but they refused to move," he said.

The workers from India said their recruiters had promised them work as grocery shop attendants and as cleaners, janitors and porters at the airport.

They said their recruiters instead asked them to work as construction workers and did not expect to do "tough tasks at construction sites". After complaining and asking to be sent back home, the workers said the company moved them from their accommodation to an open tent. They also said they were not given food, water or blankets, despite the cold weather.

"Why will I feed them if they refuse to work? Why will I let them sit in the workers' accommodation if they are creating problems for us?" said Sinha. "No one is protecting our rights as employees. Why is no proper accommodation for workers being built?"