Human Rights Watch Issues Report, Introduction

Press Release
hrw.org, 12 Nov. 2006

As the United Arab Emirates experiences one of the world’s largest construction booms, its government has failed to stop employers from seriously abusing the rights of the country’s half million migrant construction workers, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.full article

Commentary

The HRW press release of 12 November set the tone of a 71-page report detailing the problems facing construction workers in the UAE. The immediate result of the report may be to effectively put the spotlight on Dubai and this issue, especially in terms of international press coverage. Whether it will have the lasting effect of leading to better conditions for these workers remains to be seen.

Not only an activist organization, the HRW attempts to work with governments on the issues it highlights. The excerpt below reveals a little about the organization's approach to the UAE government:

On October 27, Human Rights Watch communicated its findings and recommendations to the UAE government in a letter. Shortly thereafter, on November 7, the prime minister ordered the labor minister to immediately institute reforms based on Human Rights Watch’s recommendations. Specifically, the prime minister’s decree directed the labor minister to set up a special labor court to resolve labor disputes, increase the number of government inspectors, require employers to provide health insurance for low-skilled workers, and develop mandatory mechanisms enabling workers to collect unpaid wages. Human Rights Watch welcomed this swift response and inherent acknowledgement of the problem of abuse.

In addition to its press release and 71-page report, HRW provides a multimedia presentation on the topic at its website. The collection of photographs in the slideshow presentation dramatizes the contrast between the plight of the workers and the upscale lifestyles they labor to build. The presentation and parts of the report are made available in Arabic and Hindi or Urdu, in additon to English.

Go to latest In the News post or In Support of UAE Laborers home.

Human Rights Watch Issues Report, p1

Building Towers, Cheating Workers
Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates
hrw.org, Nov. 2006

This Human Rights Watch report addresses the abusive conditions faced by migrant construction workers in the UAE, specifically their exploitation by employers, and the UAE federal government’s failure adequately to address these abuses. Through interviews with workers, government officials, and foreign embassy representatives, as well as a survey of media reports in news and trade journal publications, we highlight what appears to be the most common concern of the construction workers: extremely low wages, typically withheld by employers for a minimum of two months along with their passports, as “security” to keep the worker from quitting.full report

Commentary

Beginning with its title, the report levels hard-hitting criticism at labor practices in the UAE with particular regard to the plight of construction laborers. Numerous issues are raised which point to wrongful and illegal practices by companies and a government which, having issued laws or decrees to address these issues, fails to implement them. The report also goes on to call for action by foreign governments to better protect and support their own nationals:

Foreign governments have a role to play in ensuring respect for the rights of migrant construction workers in the UAE. The economies of source countries benefit tremendously from the remittances of expatriate workers in the UAE... They need to clamp down on local recruitment agents who charge workers fees in connection with their employment in the UAE, and they should prohibit the charging of such fees entirely. Their embassies in the UAE should also make proactive efforts to address the needs of their expatriate citizens, providing them with advice and assistance should they encounter difficulties with employers.

What is interesting is that as a resident in country the past 6 years and one who has paid attention to labor issues with more or less interest during that time, I find little if anything that is news here. That is not to diminsh the value of the report but rather to highlight that if anything its writers appear to have taken a cautious approach to any criticism or charges made.

It also suggests that the problems are so prevalent that the ordinary man on the street in the UAE, with no direct connection to such issues, is aware of the extremes and abuses that exist. The incredibly low wages, withheld pay and passports, difficult and dangerous work conditions... topics such as these figure regularly in the media.

In Part 2 of this post I shall detail in point form the exact criticisms and suggestions presented in the report summary, from which the above excerpts were taken. Broken down in such a fashion, the issues will be easier to examine, and it may be possible at some later stage to codify what improvements, if any, have been made. In the meantime, the reader is advised to review the report and make his own judgements.

Postscript:

What is the Human Rights Watch? In their own words:

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.

Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly.

Go to latest In the News post or In Support of UAE Laborers home.

Government Initiative, p2

Stricter enforcement of labour laws
Gulf News, 8 Nov. 2006

Shaikh Mohammad yesterday met Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, at Zabeel Palace and ordered him to take necessary action to address the issues of expatriate workers in the country and to ensure that significantly improved standards of health, safety and quality of life - in both their workplaces and living areas - are met.

He also instructed the minister to implement a medical insurance scheme that covers all grades of labourers and provides them with the same standards of health and medical care enjoyed by the rest of the community.full article

Commentary

The article offers some detail not mentioned in the article discussed in the preceding post, Latest Government Initiative. Specifically, reference is made to a medical insurance scheme and Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi's (labor minister) presence at the meeting. The article further highlights the tone of Sheikh Mohammed's initiative adding,

He emphasised the severe consequences that will befall anyone caught violating these laws or proven to have blackmailed or abused labourers, and that they, and those that support them, will face the full force of the law.

Related Post: Latest Government Initiative

Go to latest In the News post or In Support of UAE Laborers home.

Latest Government Initiative

Mohammad: Protect rights of workers
Gulf News, 8 Nov. 2006

All necessary measures must be taken to ensure the rights of expatriate workers are protected and their living and working conditions are significantly improved, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai ordered authorities yesterday.full article w/reader comments

Commentary

The article details a new directive, which if implemented and enforced would go a long way toward improving conditions for laborers and other workers in the UAE. In this sense it bears examining closely what the directive asserts and what follow-up action is taken. From the article, the following initiatives can be highlighted as having particular relevance to laborers:

1. protection of worker rights
   
2. significant improvement of worker's living and working conditions
   
3. implementation of an effective mechanism to enforce due compensation to workers whose salaries have been withheld for more than two months
   
4. allowing of workers to switch jobs with no obstacles, provided UAE and Ministry of Labor conditions are met
   
5. drawing up of a comprehensive plan to include a timeline for implementation
   
6. creation of a specialized court for dealing with labor complaints and cases of mistreatment
   
7. Setting up of a special inspection unit comprising 2000 inspectors to monitor labor accommodations and workplaces
   
8. Urgent investigation of labor supply companies to assure that they comply with the laws and refrain from abusing workers' rights

The article adds,

"The UAE will not tolerate any unjust treatment of workers or compromise of their dignity and basic human rights," he warned.

For the sake of future reference, also present at the meeting to discuss labor issues were:

• Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
  
• Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
  
• Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi

A non-governmental human rights agency could hardly have drafted a more comprehensive list of demands that would help to significantly improve the rights and conditions of workers. Missing, however, is any call for higher pay or a minimum wage. What remains to be seen is how many of the demands of the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai are met in practice, if any.

Go to latest In the News post or In Support of UAE Laborers home.