BUILDING AND WOOD WORKERS INTERNATIONAL (BWI)
GENEVA / Switzerland, 3 April 2006: On 30 March 2006, United Arab Emirates Labour Minister Ali ibn Abdullah Al-Kaabi said that the country was working on a law that will allow to form trade unions and pursue collective bargaining. The new law will improve the conditions of migrant workers.
"Finally, the plight of one million Asian workers has gained fresh attention in the booming city-state of Dubai. UAE has been turning a blind eye to problems with employers routinely denying wages and fundamental rights such as freedom of association and collective bargaining." said BWI General Secretary.
Most construction workers secure work in the UAE by taking loans from recruiting agencies in their home country. A typical construction worker uses a large portion of his wages towards repayment of such loans on a monthly basis, and without wages he falls further into debt. The result is virtual debt bondage.
Migrant construction workers work around 13 hours a day under 50°C, earn between 100 and 150 euros and live in very poor conditions. Death and injury at the workplace are also on the rise.
The new law is expected to be in place by the end of the year.
