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.