The plight of a significant number of Dubai鈥檚 migrant workers from the Indian subcontinent is appalling

They are poorly paid, often not at all, inadequately housed and poorly fed. Even at their best a European worker would never consent to live under the conditions these men do.

However, UAE Law sets up a minimum standard of welfare to be maintained and labour suppliers have to deposit a bond to guarantee the proper application of workers鈥� rights under the law. The size of the bond is dependant upon the number of workers the labour supplier can employ under his licence, which can be revoked. The problem is that this is not properly policed unless the conditions are highlighted internationally at which point the UAE authorities will have a crackdown to save face. As a result the labour suppliers constantly ignore what little protection the workers have. With regard to wages, there is no minimum wage in the UAE.

Les Hall

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