Police set up 24-hour hotline for complaints

“The 24-hour hotline service for expatriate workers facing problems with their employers is operational,” he said at a Press conference held here yesterday.

He pointed out that the service has been launched by the Dubai Police on the instructions of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, to take strict action against companies delaying payment of salaries to workers.

Lt-Gen. Dhahi Khalfan said: “The Dubai Police will distribute 30,000 posters in different languages to labour camps in the emirate, starting today. The posters will highlight the 24-hour hotline number 8005005 located at the Dubai Police Operations Room. The posters will be put up at various company locations, encouraging workers to call the Dubai Police if they face any problem. Workers can lodge their complaints in three languages — Arabic, English and Urdu."

He said: “As soon as a complaint is received, the Operations Room will inform the officers concerned and we will contact the company owner. If the employer fails to respond and if the company is found violating labour laws, the Dubai Police will take immediate action against the owner.”

“The decision to introduce the hotline service was taken as a solution to prevent labour strikes and protests,” he said, adding that he does not see any reason why employers should not pay salaries to labourers on time.

He warned that the companies violating the laws will be blacklisted and “we will inform the department concerned, such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Department of Naturalisation and Residency to take necessary action."

Lt-Gen. Dhahi Khalfan urged the company owners to respect UAE labour laws and their own reputation by giving the labourers their rights, warning that the Dubai Police will not allow such inhuman acts, and will henceforth ensure that nobody mars the reputation of the UAE.