Khaleej Times
DUBAI, Oct 29: A large batch of construction workers involved in Saturday’s violent protest outside their Jebel Ali labour camp faced deportation yesterday evening, according to a senior police officer.
According to official estimates, several hundred other workers of the same local contracting company also face deportation on similar charges of having indulged in violence and damaging public and private properties. They have been put under tight security in their labour camp in Jebel Ali.
“Their labour permits have already been cancelled by the Ministry of Labour (MoL) and a life ban has been put on their entry to the UAE. The majority of labourers deported or facing deportation are reported to be of Asian origin,” he said.
“The riot police has cordoned off their labour camp in Jebel Ali, while Dubai police officials and security agencies have been put on high alert,” the police source said. The protesting labourers were demanding higher salary and better working conditions.
He added that the police helicopter units also captured the violence and vandalism on camera while it was in progress on Saturday. All those who participated in the violence and are are identified on police video tapes will be prosecuted and face stiff legal action.
Brigadier Khamis Mattar Al Mazina, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said that labourers should not resort to illegal and violent tactics to press for their demands. They should approach their company management through representatives and try to resolve their grievances through amicable negotiations. Also in case the company management does not respond favourably, the workers should then directly approach MoL.
Meanwhile, yesterday several hundred labourers of a local engineering firm staged a violent protest in Al Ghusais. They blocked the road in front of the New Medical Centre and smashed windscreens of company buses and window panes of a nearby building under construction.
Eye witnesses said the police had initially cordoned off the construction site soon after the demonstrating workers turned violent. The police, as a precautionary measure, also carried out an aerial surveillance of the vicinity to monitor the situation.
Some labourers told Khaleej Times, “we have been drawing a meagre monthly salary of Dh600. We want an increment of Dh 400 and also other benefits such as overtime allowance.” Later the police sent back the workers to their labour camps located in Sonapur and Jebel Ali in Dubai and a camp in Sharjah.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Brigadier Mohammed Al Marri, Head of the Permanent Committe for Labour Affairs (PCLA) said “our officials have intervened in an effort to conciliate the situation. They are also in touch with the employers and the company management to ensure that an amicable solution can be reached at the earliest.”
In another incident yesterday workers of a local contracting company in Jebel Ali staged a brief protest demanding a hike in their salary. The police reached the site immediately and persuaded them to disperse and take up their grievances with the company management.
The Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi had cautioned on Saturday that his ministry would not hesitate in deporting workers who indulge in violent protests .
“We will not be lenient towards whoever tampers with the security of the state and safety of residents,” the minister stressed.