Significant drop in number of Dubai workers who stopped work in H1

The incidents involving labourers who stopped work due to disputes have reduced significantly in the emirate.

According to Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazina, Deputy Commander-in-chief, Dubai Police, only 17 cases of labour strikes were reported in the first six months of 2013, compared to 26 during the corresponding period last year, a drop of 34 per cent.

He was speaking at a press conference held by the General Command of Dubai Police, in the presence of Brigadier Dr Mohammad Al Murr, Director, Human Rights Department at Dubai Police.

In the first half of this year, 15 workers stopped working peacefully, he added.

Maj-Gen Mazina said of the total cases reported, 47 per cent stopped work because employers delayed salaries; 29 per cent stopped work demanding an increase in their wages and 6 per cent because they were not paid.

Maj-Gen Mazina confirmed the success of the Human Rights Department of Dubai Police, which in cooperation with its partners at the Ministry of Labour, recovered Dh2,087 million from companies that delayed payment of workers' wages during the first half of this year.

Meanwhile, Brigadier Mohammad Al Murr said that the number of complaints received by the Management of Workers ' Human Rights at Dubai Police rose to 454 during the first six months of this year, compared with 326 during the same period last year.

This is an increase of 28 per cent.

There were 224 complaints of non-payment of wages; 48 complaints of arbitrary measures against workers; 13 complaints of ill-treatment; 47 complaints relating to retrieving documents and papers; 13 complaints of salary deductions; and 2 about sponsorship transfer.

Of the complaints filed, 365 were made by Asian workers; 53 by Arabs; 34 by Africans workers and 2 by European workers.

Brigadier-General Al Marri said during the first half of this year, inspections were carried out in 938 workers’ homes.

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