By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Thousands of foreign construction workers protested over low wages and poor working and living conditions. Early October 27, workers, mostly of south Asian origin, took to the street to demand a pay rise, better living conditions, and better transportation to work. The demonstration turned violent when Dubai police tried to remove a road block. Some protesters threw stones at the police and passing motorist; one motorist sustained minor injuries.
A Jebel Ali (a construction company) representative stated that workers involved in the riot, which resulted in the damage of public property, had been detained and will be deported. Gulf News reported that a UAE Ministry of Labour official confirmed that some rioters were in custody and that a team of ministry employees were working to cancel the workers’ visas. In a statement following the protests, Minister of Labour Ali bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi said that the government will take the necessary measures to deport whatever number of workers responsible for the riots. The Ministry of Labour said that it warned workers to return to work or their visas may be cancelled and they will face a lifetime ban from entering the UAE.
Despite the threat of deportation, many workers went on strike on October 28. Foreign construction workers have gone on strike several times earlier this year. Now, like then, the workers demand higher and/or timely wages, and better working conditions. The demands for higher wages have become more urgent in recent months as a result of the falling US dollar. The UAE dirham is closely tied to the US dollar. As a result of the decreasing value and increased cost of living in Dubai, many workers are not able to save money to send to their families. Most of the workers come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
In response to the strikes, the Minister of Labour labeled the acts as “uncivilized” and that the workers should have registered their complaints peacefully. However, workers claim that they had no other option since their requests for higher wages and better conditions had been ignored by the construction companies. Despite visibility of their plight, workers have seen little support from the local and international community. Some analysts, such as Mohammed al-Shaiba, believe now is the time for the government to set a minimum wage.
For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Dubai construction workers strike – 29 October 2007
BBC – Dubai construction workers strike – 29 October 2007
ArabianBusiness.com – UAE threatens deportation after violent protest -28 October 2007
Guardian – Dubai strike threatens building boom – 28 October 2007
Gulf News – Workers to be deported after violent demonstration – 28 October 2007
For more information about the condition of migrant workers in the UAE, please see:
Al Jazeera – Blood, Sweat, and Tears – 15 August 2007
Human Rights Watch – Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers – 12 November 2006
