The face of labour camps in Dubai is set to change with some companies building high-tech camps in accordance with International Labor Organization (ILO) specifications.
Unlike the present cramped and unhygienic labor camps in Sonapur, Jebel Ali and Al Quoz where many laborers are dumped in small rooms, these labor camps will have facilities including sports courts, swimming pools, cinema halls and even internet cafes.
Group 4 Securicor, a leading security company, has already built a state of the art labour camp while Dubai Labor Supply Company (Dulsco), a leading labour supply company is planning one. Group 4 Securicor which employs 6,000 security guards invested Dh180 million for its new state of the art accommodation in Jebel Ali.
"New complexes have been planned in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and construction will begin in the next three months," said Rory Mallon, the firm's regional managing director.
Almost 2,000 security guards are to be housed in the new residential compound in Jebel Ali. Each rooms will be shared by a maximum of three employees.
"The availability of such a wide range of leisure facilities at our residential complex will ensure that our employees will perform well," said Rory Mallon.
"We are developing a new labor camp with facilities like a gymnasium, internet cafe, cricket, football, hockey grounds, air conditioners and other features.Workers are our assets and we intend to give them better living conditions," said Bala Kumar, General Manager of Dulsco.
Sadia Sheikh, the marketing manager of Dulsco, added: "Construction is in progress for a three-level Dulsco Village, which will house 4,000 employees and we plan to complete it by December 2006.
"We plan to provide the same facility to our workers in other emirates like Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. We are building these camps in order to abide by the ILO specifications."
By VM Sathish
© Emirates Today 2006