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Workers’ plight moves volunteers

DUBAI - In response to a report published in Khaleej Times on August 15, several volunteers have come forward to lend a helping hand to those affected by the Al Quoz fire in which five poor labourers lost their money and personal belongings.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the volunteers said that they felt deeply for the poor people who had lost their belongings in the fire. They were too willing to help them in any way, including any necessary monetary assistance.

On August 15, a fire broke out in Room 16, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Block B 5 after a short circuit and spread throughout due to non-functional fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers. The fire put at risk the life of one labourer and burnt to ashes the savings and personal belongings of five poor inhabitants.

Until now, the management of the company that had rented the room for its workers, has not compensated for their loss.

The Administration Manager of the Blue Light Industries, Mr Bhaskaran said, “We yet have to take up the issue with our management and decide what can be compensated to the workers.”

He also said that Dh300 had been given as advance to the workers so that they can continue with their everyday routine. He confirmed that the company had no problem with volunteers coming up to help the workers.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Naushad Khan, who had lost Dh6,000 in the fire, said, “The company has not promised us anything until now and we do not even know if they will give us any compensation or not. I have already lost too much money in the fire.”

He also said that he was thankful to the volunteers who had come up to help them. “We are very grateful to these people for helping us as we do not even know them,” he added.

Nisar, who had lost gifts and other valuable items in the fire said that the company had given them Dh300 each so that they could buy clothes.

“We had lost all our personal belongings in the fire, and did not even have clothes to wear,” he said, adding that the company had given the money as advance and most probably it would be deducted from their salary next month.