New worker residences 'will improve conditions'

Abu Dhabi: The announcement yesterday of the expected signing of a contract for two new worker residences in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi free zones is an attempt by the government to improve workers' living conditions across the UAE.

According to a press release from ZonesCorp, the company signing the agreements next Tuesday, the two new contracts come under the directions of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The contracts to build the labour complexes, about which little has so far been disclosed, will be signed by ZoneCorp, Omair Holding Group and Al Rayan Investments. The agreement comes three months after the inauguration in April of the first phase of a labour residential area in Industrial City outside Abu Dhabi. The residence however is only available to companies working in the free zone.

Shaikh Hamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Planning and Economy, Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (ZoneCorp), said: "Today's agreement is just an example of peerless humanitarian goals."

Gulf News asked a few labourers living in overcrowded camps in the Musafah area outside the free zones what they felt about the initiative and what improvements they would like to see in their accommodation.

Gopal from India who has worked as a ceiling fixer in the UAE for four years says he shares a room with nine other men. He says the conditions, in the summer especially, can be unbearable. He welcomed the move by the government to supply better accommodation but asked when it would be available to all.

"Life is tough in the camps. I think this announcement is good but there are many of us who won't get the same offer."

Sulaiman from Pakistan said his accommodation in Bani Yas was "quite good" but sharing a room with four other men "caused problems".

"Why don't they make new accommodation for everyone? The workers in the free zone are the lucky ones," he said.

Abdul Rahman, a Pakistani construction worker in Abu Dhabi, said: "This is encouraging but they have a long way to go."