UAE is a place that provides the people from all over the world a livelihood in an atmosphere of safety and security.
But, now labor protests and related incidents have cast a shadow over the emirate's reputation. Of late, migrant workers have been increasingly resorting to public protests and strikes in an attempt to improve their working conditions.
The protest is particularly evident in the construction sector, which is a lucrative industry in Dubai, where some companies often delay workers' wages. The issue received international attention after the US-based Human Rights Watch criticized the working conditions of migrant workers in the UAE.
Protests take a violent turn sometimes, the latest instance of which took place this year, when over 2,500 workers clashed with riot police -- a rare occurrence in Dubai. Protestors chased and beat security officers, broke into offices and destroyed cars and machinery, causing heavy damages. Asian laborers were complaining about nonpayment of wages, extended working hours without compensation, unsafe working environments resulting in death and injury, squalid living conditions in labor camps etc.
In another incident, 319 Chinese construction workers kept their managers under siege for many hours. Finally the police had to intervene to rescue the manager and his deputy. The Chinese were protesting the company's move to deport some workers after they stopped work over nonpayment of salaries.
However, many of the protesting laborers are said to be those working with employers other than their sponsors, or illegally overstaying in the UAE. Most workers abscond lured by offers of a few dirhams more, thereby falling into the clutches of a mafia operating amid the workers themselves.
But such growing protests and riots are bad publicity to the UAE. According to a study conducted by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, "An organized group of workers have been inciting their colleagues to protest even if the disputes could be resolved by other means". Some officials argue the issue has been blown out of proportion by the media.
Whatsoever, the fact is that the problem is growing and spoiling the image of peace and security that Dubai is associated with all over the world.
It seems that the only solution to the strikes is to set up an Unskilled Labor Authority directly under government supervision. The government should legalize all the illegal, and overstaying workers and bring them under the new authority, fix fair minimum wages, and provide decent accommodation and other basic amenities.
Moreover, the private labor supply companies, the source of all labor unrest, should be forced to follow suit, or face a grim future or closure.
According to Labor Ministry officials, there are around 200,000 illegal/overstaying workers. A labor authority under government can legally utilize these laborers. This would add to the country's security.
Currently, dozens of illegal labor supply companies openly exploit laborers for wages. These illegal laborers then have to work for 3 to 5 dirhams an hour. At the same time, the labor supply companies charge 5 to 8 dirhams per hour from the employer. The practice of renting out laborers to other companies is widespread in the UAE.
Now, most of the laborers toil on massive construction projects for as little as 600 dirhams a month and live in special labor camps. When they come under the labor authority, government can enhance their salaries.
In addition, the authority will be able to provide at least 2,000 jobs for UAE nationals in various administrative and supervising levels. Unemployment is becoming a major issue among the nationals too.
Since the labor authority will be authorized to bring in unskilled laborers from abroad, the visa trade also will stop.
Currently, most of the labor agents recruiting workers from South Asia openly charge the men and women they bring to the UAE the cost of their visas. (This is illegal under the UAE Labor Law). Due to this, many workers had to take out loans of more than 8,500 dirhams, often at high interest rates. A construction worker uses a large chunk of his monthly wages toward the repayment of the loan forcing him into further debt. The result is virtual debt bondage and in some cases suicide.
In short, through an official labor authority we can put an end to the strikes and the growing visa trade. This will generate more revenue to the government, more employment opportunities to UAE nationals.
By K.T. Abdurabb
© Arab News 2006
