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Hearing them out: service centre for labourers opened at Sonapur

DUBAI — In a move aimed at benefiting thousands of labourers living in Sonapur, the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs (PCLA) yesterday opened its first dedicated service centre near Sonapur bus station.

“Labourers can visit the service centre and convey their grievances to the staff. Action for genuine grievances will be initiated as soon as possible," said Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director of the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department and Chairman of PCLA. "The centre will work during evenings also, considering the work hours of labourers. Four staffers will be working at the centre and they will visit each labour camp in the vicinity along with personnel from other relevant departments," said Maj-Gen. Al Marri.

Similar centres, he said, will be opened in Jebel Ali and Al Quoz soon.

"The service centres will conduct awareness campaigns and entertainment programmes for labourers. The centres will educate the labourers about their rights and obligations," Maj-Gen Al Marri said. "The centre will observe the labourers' living conditions, salary payments and other related issues and initiate action against the companies that violate the law. This is an effort to ensure better living conditions for the labour force," he added.

In connection with the centre's opening ceremony, a concert was staged. Among the audience were by diplomats from Sri Lanka, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Mohammed Waseen, Welfare Consul at the Pakistani consulate in Dubai, said, "The move will help the labourers and make them feel comfortable while airing their grievances to the government."