Labourers true heroes: Shaikh Mohammed

Shaikh Mohammed on Sunday paid handsome tribute to the “unsung heroes” and launched a ‘Thank You’ campaign to mark his seventh year of accession as the Ruler of Dubai that falls on January 4.

“This year, like previous years, I asked the authorities concerned not to make any celebrations for the Accession Day on January 4,” he said. “In the last two years, we highlighted key segments of the community that deserve our gratitude and attention such as orphaned children and mothers. This year, we focus on a new group: general labour employees such as gardeners, janitors, construction workers, domestic workers among others.”

“These groups play an active role in society. Some have spent many years doing a great job and they deserve a big ‘Thank You’ from all of us. Every day our cities wake up to find clean and decorated streets and all facilities ready for a new day. Unknown soldiers are behind such work. We want to let them know that their services are valued and appreciated as they make our lives easier and better.”

He said true heroes are those worker at home, the gardener, or the person who sweeps the street outside. Shaikh Mohammed said: “We will tell them all, ‘Thank you’.”

“I shall start by myself, and I ask you to share photos of your celebration. We want kindness to prevail,” the leader said.

Shaikh Mohammed revealed his plan for next year’s Accession Day on his Twitter account followed by over 1.3 million people and Facebook page that has over 732,000 fans. He also posted pictures of him with the workers of Dubai Metro.

While hundreds of people retweeted his tweet, more than 10,000 people liked the Facebook post. Over 1,000 facebook fans also commented on the post mostly congratulating and thanking the leader for the gesture.

“Highly appreciate your move to thank all those who work hard to make our life beautiful. This move will bring a wave of change and wake all those unconscious minds who never paused to thank the workers around us. It’s a way of building a better society where love n respect is displayed,” a facebook post from Aasha Lama read.

This is not the first time that the leader has appreciated the immense contribution of those who toil hard for the public and the country. Every year, he gives away Dubai Government Excellence Awards to acknowledge the hard work of sweepers, gardeners, drivers, office boy and other such employees of various government departments whose efforts have helped their sections excel in their fields.

Within hours after Shaikh Mohammed launched the campaign, the Dubai Municipality came up with an array of activities to honour and entertain the civic workers, who play a major role in keeping the city clean and safe.

Director-General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah issued directions to carry out a number of events aimed at honouring the municipality workers in different areas.

The events declared by the municipality included selection of different groups of workers to visit the Burj Khalifa and Global Village and a group for dinner party, in addition to the organisation of a cricket tournament and many other entertainment events.

“Appropriate gifts will also be distributed at the end of events,” the municipality said in a statement.

Lootah stressed that this generous gesture is only a small part of the benevolence of His Highness that we are accustomed on such occasions, which embodies the interest of the Ruler in this group of community members who need appreciation for their valuable service to the community and contribution to a clean environment.

‘His Highness gives us a distinct example showing his interest and priority in small but fundamental things especially during this occasion of accession in order to bring happiness to the basic categories of the society,” he stated.

The Dubai Municipality also conducts a month-long festival for civic workers in the labour accommodations to mark International Workers’ Day on May 2 every year. Last week, it held a special ceremony to recognise the noble service and dedication of 81 employees who completed 35 years of service with the municipality.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com