'We are keen to help labourers in Dubai'

More than half a million unskilled workers work at construction sites in Dubai, according to statistics issued by the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs (PCLA).
Major-General Obaid Mohair bin Surour, deputy-director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners' Affairs (GDRFA), in Dubai and Chairman of the PCLA, said: "There are 569,128 unskilled workers in Dubai working for 3,039 companies and the PCLA ensures to protect their rights. This will have a positive impact on the country's welfare."
The UAE has a long-standing commitment to protect workers' rights as well as uphold the interests and rights of employers. "We are keen to help labourers in Dubai get a comfortable, fair and healthy life," he said.
Maj-Gen Bin Surour said that to achieve the goal of full protection for workers in Dubai, the PCLA launches awareness and inspection campaigns throughout the year. "We want Dubai to be a role model in protecting and caring for workers' rights and provide them with a safe working environment."
PCLA also launched the heat stress initiative to raise workers' awareness on the danger of work in the sun heat, and distributed 3,000 posters and brochures to workers in Arabic, English and Urdu.
It also distributed 3,000 brochures as part of the oral health initiative of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai's for basic workers' category. A total of 2,000 workers registered in the initiative in six months.
The ministry standards and requirements for workers accommodations as well as for the implementation of the contract between the parties and the follow-up on workers affairs are high, he said. - Wam