Yas Island site raises bar for labour accommodation
By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
Published: October 21, 2008, 23:45
Abu Dhabi: Free internet stations, cricket competitions, gymnasiums, concerts, satellite televisions, subsidised markets and art painting sessions - these are just a few of the amenities that Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour, witnessed on Monday night in Aldar's labour accommodation on his first such tour as minister of labour.
Together with the undersecretary and the inspections arm of the ministry, Gobash walked through the Yas Island labour accommodation, which houses 22,000 labourers from across the world.
"The purpose of this trip is to assert the UAE's position in caring about this issue," Gobash said. "Together with the private sector, we are working to make conditions for labourers a reflection of our society. Our actions have to match our words and goals."
For a long time, the squalid conditions of labour accommodation across the UAE were a black eye for the country, but the Ministry of Labour, together with private companies has taken on the challenge of improvement.
"We have come a long way from where we were, and we still have a way to go," Gobash told a room of reporters after touring the camps.
"We don't just want to meet international standards, we want to exceed them as you have witnessed today, there are many things here that exceed that."
Although the minister stayed clear of what punishments there would be for companies who violate the standards, he asserted the importance of cooperation with the private sector and not punishments.
"We are far more productive if we work with the private sector than against them. We will implement standards and we will be patient with them. Yes, there will be punishments and we are going to enforce this, but we are not focused on that. We are focusing on the incentives that companies have in treating their labourers. We are all partners in this initiative," Gobash said.
The minister stressed that the Aldar living areas were an exception and that not all camps offer these facilities.
"I understand it is not a perfect picture, but we cannot deny the progress we have made. We cannot solve problems overnight but we are certainly all trying to not only meet but exceed international standards," Gobash said.
The minister praised Aldar for its efforts in being exemplary and challenged companies in the private sector to follow suit. Together with the inspections unit, Gobash vowed that he would visit more accommodations and hear what people are saying.
Gobash turned to an Aldar executives and said, "This is very impressive. But this time we came announced next time it will be a surprise."
Food and pay complaints
To the background of Saqr Gobash, Minister of Labour, touring the Yas Island labour accommodation, labourers complained to Gulf News about the food quality and pay.
"We eat the same food every day and if we want to eat other food we have to use our own money," one labourer told Gulf News. Although Aldar prides itself in the food it provides for its workers, the labourers insist that the food should be better.
Paid Dh700 per month as the basic salary, labourers complain that the pay is not enough. Asked if they are happy about their job, many agreed, saying it is much better than work situations in their respective countries.
Source: Gulfnews.com
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Speed Comments: I wish Qatar follows the same path as UAE for the betterment of it's Labourers issues in Qatar...
