Progress

Housing complexes closed to protect workers' rights (GN)

Good Tidings:
The labour ministry has shut down more than 100 workers' accommodations for unhygienic living conditions. The ministry has been engaged in a major and concerted programme to ensure that the living and working conditions of the country's expatriate workforce is improved.

The article continues,

the UAE Government has, since last summer, been engaged in a major and concerted programme to ensure that the living and working conditions of the country's expatriate workforce is improved... The workers living in those complexes have been provided with temporary housing pending the completion of new housing built to international guidelines. Some of these new complexes have already been opened, and others are being rapidly built... Over the next few months, the number of inspectors should reach over 2,000, 20 times the number that there were in summer 2006, an indication of the seriousness with which the government is tackling this task.

UAE engaged in major drive 'to tackle labour issues (GN)

Problems to be addressed:

• health & safety


• quality of accommodation


• timely payment of salaries


• recruitment issues


• minimum wage

  The ministry is also preparing proposals for the introduction of a minimum wage structure, at first in the construction industry, and then to be expanded to other sectors...

Commentary

In brief, the above is representative of concrete steps the government is taking to improve conditions for laborers. It is a big step in the right direction and, significantly, a long awaited anouncement of a minimum wage for contstruction workers seems eminent.

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