Sharjah, 13th April 2012 (WAM) -- Sharjah Media Centre has issued the following statement in reference to the story published in English media dated 12 April 2012 on "workers left homeless after being banished from families-only residential zones in Sharjah".

Sharjah Media Centre, the communications arm of the government of Sharjah, would like to clarify that the story contains erroneous information.

HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, issued a directive that bachelors residing collectively in families-only residential zones must evacuate the premises as their presence poses a concern to families living in such areas.

We would like to clarify the following points:1.Sharjah and other emirates have demarcated families-only residential zones. The law forbids single workers, especially those living in shared accommodation, to reside in areas dedicated to families. Bachelors who reside in such zones have breached the law.

2.Sharjah Governments latest order is directed towards violators of the law. The government has given the single workers a notice to relocate to zones designated for bachelors.

3.The Sharjah government has extended help to the violators to identify suitable alternative accommodation. Furthermore, no fine or punishment has been imposed on the violators.

4.Sharjah offers a well-connected affordable public transport network that covers all areas of the emirate and is cheaper than hiring taxis. Workers can use this facility to commute from their homes to their workplace.

Sharjah continues to prioritise the well-being of its residents, both nationals and expatriates. This includes single individuals and families. As part of this mission, Sharjah is keen to enforce regulations that foster a harmonious and secure environment.

Labours Housing StrategyEngineer Saleh Bin Butti, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Directorate of Town Planning and Survey in the emirate of Sharjah, explained Sharjahs strategy that prohibits bachelors from residing in and around families-only areas such as Waset street.

Stressing that the UAE-national owners of the homes have moved into new and modern residential areas as a logical consequence of a phenomenal increase in the size of families, he pointed out that the vacant family villas were let out to bachelors.

He said that while it was only natural that houses were rented to increase and support family incomes, the owners had not taken into account that these are strictly families-only zones, which are inhabited by expat and national families. He emphasised that a large number of these buildings were rented to bachelor labourers - most of them from Asian nationalities who come mostly from poor backgrounds and demonstrate behaviours that are not in synergy with local customs of privacy.

He clarified that over-crowding in these buildings also led to poor hygiene due to the overuse of toilets and sewage systems. Such overuse is not only a breach of hygiene rules but also causes bad odours and leads to spread of infectious diseases.

On the other hand, violators of immigration law and fugitives from sponsors also use the buildings as hide-outs. It is also obvious that the presence of a large number of bachelor labourers of different origins provokes a higher incidence of crime. According to police statistics and the Ministry of Labour these places recorded the highest percentage in criminal and immigration offenses. There were continuous complaints from families living near labour camps in areas bordering Wasit Road in Sharjah.

He said that towards addressing the situation, the government of Sharjah has taken appropriate steps such as identifying suitable alternative accommodation for the labourers before evacuating them from families-only housing areas.

Elaborating on the government of Sharjahs new policy for housing bachelor labourers, he called on the private sector to take the responsibility for providing and managing accommodation for a large percentage of labourers. He highlighted that it is essential that the private sector complies with international labour laws.

Bin Butti pointed out that the Executive Council of Sharjah has issued Resolution No. (12) for the year 2008 to reorganize the standards governing the specifications of labour accommodation in the Emirate of Sharjah. He further elaborated that Article (6) of the resolution prohibited labour accommodation not only in residential areas but also in industrial areas.

He stressed that the move of Sharjah government to evacuate the bachelor labourers residing in neighbouring areas of Wasit road comes in line with the provisions of the resolution.

Chairman of Directorate of Town Planning and Survey additionally said that the industrial area in Sharjah and particularly Sajaa is a key labour accommodation zone that hosts exhaustive numbers of buildings. The Directorate of Town Planning and Survey is in the process of designing gardens and integrated service facilities for labourers.

Adding that the construction of these housing complexes was completed four years ago, he pointed out that the complex has sufficient buildings and amenities to accommodate all the bachelor labourers in Sharjah.

In addition to compensating the owners who have rented their homes to bachelors, the Sharjah government will provide funds for the maintenance of neglected buildings. Furthermore, the area will be overhauled to feature gardens and other public facilities.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2012.