Monday 3 January 2011

Dubai labour camp workers rise up


WORKERS in a giant labour camp at Al Quoz in Dubai have rioted against poor living conditions and treatment by security guards.

One report said an official from Jams HR Solutions, the firm that runs the camp, had described the damage as "huge" with at least 40 buses destroyed and furniture and windows smashed.

It said work protests are unusual in Dubai despite growing complaints of pay shortfalls since Dubai's economic slump last year.

However, in March 2007, labourers from Al Quoz rioted, as part of a larger 8,000 strong protest against contracting companies, demanding better living conditions and wage increases.

The Al Quoz camp is home to about 3,000 Nepali and Indian workers and the latest incident apparently occurred after an assault by Arab security guards, several of whom have now been arrested.

Sanjay Verma, the Indian consul general in Dubai, was quoted by The National as saying the root causes were "dissatisfaction with living conditions, security-related issues and food supply."

Officials at Jams HR Solutions refused to comment to media about the camp uprising.

The company provides offices in Dubai and the Jebel Ali Free Zone with various manpower services including domestic, cleaning and stevedoring.