Abu Dhabi labourers eat on street because housing rules forbid outside food

Labourers living at Abu Dhabi Workers Village say they have been forced to eat outside in the summer heat due to rules that even the security guards do not know why they are enforced.

Labourers sit outside their labour camp under the blistering sun as they say there are not allowed to carry food into their accommodation at the Workers Village in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The NationalShow less

ABU DHABI // Workers are having to eat meals in sweltering summer heat in the street outside their labour accommodation because they are not allowed to bring their own food inside.

Abu Dhabi Workers Village in Mussaffah has its own mess hall where meals are served, but many workers say the food is of poor quality, not properly cooked or not to their taste.

“We are not allowed to take outside food parcels to our rooms,” said Mohamed Hanifa, from Bangladesh. “That’s why we eat our food outside.

“If you come between 7pm and 8pm, you can see here a few thousand workers eating beside the walls outside the camps.”

Bangladeshi expatriate workers made up the bulk of those complaining. They say they are given Indian and Pakistani food, which is “entirely different” from what they are used to.

The Bangladeshis prefer to have rice as the centrepiece of a meal, while the Indian and Pakistani meals served use bread, and different spices.

Security guards stop workers and have put up warning signs on the gate saying that “outside food is not allowed”.

When asked the reason for the ban, a guard said: “It’s from the management and we don’t know, but it’s not allowed.”

“The food quality is not good,” said Bangladeshi fire safety officer Mohamed Yousuf, 35, who was eating his lunch outside at 12.45pm in 45°C heat.

“They cook lentils with so much water that they turn white, despite the lentils being yellow,” he said.

“My company is good, they gave us money to eat outside, but many don’t get that and are forced to eat whatever is available inside their camp’s mess.

“We told the company to make separate food arrangements because we cannot eat this poorly cooked food. Then the company asked us to find restaurants of our choice and they would pay.”

Mr Yousuf’s company gives him Dh350 a month for food, the same as it would cost to eat in the mess hall.

He gives the money to a restaurant in return for three meals a day.

The meals served at the Workers Village are divided into three categories: one for Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese and Bangladeshis; one for Chinese and Filipinos; and one for Arabs.

A member of the village catering staff, who did not wish to be named, said that “surprisingly, Bangladeshis have to eat Indian and Pakistani food, which is entirely different”.

However, Ramesh Das, 45, an Indian expatriate, also disliked the food that is served to Indians and Pakistanis.

Mr Das is from West Bengal, and eastern Indian state where the food is similar to Bangladeshi, and he speaks the Bangla language.

“I don’t like the way vegetables and curries are cooked inside camp. That’s why I eat outside,” said Mr Das, who was eating his favourite dish of rice with fish curry.

He said it was the employers’ duty to address the matter.

The Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones, which manages the Workers Village, would not comment.