DUBAI // New labour camps will have to limit the number of workers they can put in one room and have minimum living standards, the head of the Dubai Municipality said yesterday.
Announcing a new set of regulations for the camps, Hussain Nasser Lootah said existing camps that failed inspections would be fined and could eventually be shut down.
"Standards have been set for the number of people living in each room depending on room size in all new camps," said Mr Lootah, the municipality's director general.
"Also, there would be new regulations in areas like service and maintenance inside these camps. There are lots of new labour camps coming up in the city and they would all have to meet these new living standards."
Worker accommodations have recently come under an international spotlight. A BBC documentary shown earlier this month claimed that some construction workers were living in "inhumane conditions".
Municipal officials said yesterday that more than 500 labour accommodations in Dubai over the past two years and found 40 per cent to be substandard.
They said the new rules called for each worker to have at least 40 square feet of living space and at least one bathroom per eight employees.
Other regulations set cleanliness standards for areas where food is prepared, and provide for medical and recreational facilities.
They said the emirate's 36 inspectors were continuing visit the camps, some of which were built in the 1970s.
The municipality last year launched a three-year plan to bring all its camps in line with minimum standards, including a specific plan for the large Sonapur camp.
"The routine inspections continue in these camps and we are giving notices and issuing fines to camp owners who are violating the living standards," Mr Lootah said.
Officials from the municipality's buildings inspection department warned that labour camps operators faced severe penalties if they did not meet the new standards.
It said it had ordered random checks in such areas as Jebel Ali, Muhaisnah, and Al Quoz.
Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman, the head of the department, said: "If the inspectors report any problem at a camp, we immediately issue a notice to the owner and ask them to rectify it. If they do not obey, further action will be taken even leading to closure of such camps."
Mr Rahman said at least two inspectors were carrying out checks in each area.
"These inspectors specialise in checking labour camps and they conduct random inspections to ensure everything is in order," he said.
In addition to random checks, there are regular inspections every three days, he said.
On the issue of sewage problems in some camps, which was raised by the BCC programme, Mr Rahman said: "We know there are some problems and we are dealing with them effectively. We are concerned about the well-being of the people living in these camps."
Overflowing septic tanks have caused flooding of sewage water near, and even inside, labour accommodation over the past few months.
Mr Rahman stressed that inspections were a matter of routine.
"Our inspections are not based on any media report," he said.
"There are thousands of buildings in Dubai and our inspectors are working constantly to check all of them. If there is a problem they immediately alert us."
pmenon@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
SPEC%20SHEET
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The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)