Labourers win housing battle

Dubai: Hundreds of Sharjah-based labourers won their demand for new accommodation in Dubai yesterday after police halted their march to the Labour Ministry.

But the workers failed to win a demand for an increase in their monthly Dh450 salary and Dh150 food allowance. The workers started their march at 10am and were heading towards the Labour Ministry but were intercepted by Dubai police near the Green Community.

Abdullah Bin Suloum, head of the Investigation Unit at the labour ministry and a labour committee member, said the workers' demands to get their accommodation shifted to Dubai and for healthcare facilities were legitimate. It took two hours to commute from Sharjah to Dubai every morning, said one worker.