Hundreds of Abu Dhabi labourers refuse to work in wage dispute
Summary
Date Reported: 4 Jul 2019
Location: United Arab Emirates
Other
Government ( Sector not reported/applicable ) - Unknown , Not Reported ( Construction ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 300
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 300 - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Freedom of Expression , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: By December 2019, reporting stated that workers from other companies were involved; subcontracted employees were being encouraged to protest alongside unpaid workers in solidarity. Subcontractors have reportedly told their employees not to work until the issue of payment from the main contractor is resolved. Witnesses allege that there have been violent altercations between unpaid workers and paid employees who have continued to work for other subcontractors. Police have been dispersing the protests and fights.
Source type: News outlet
Hundreds of Abu Dhabi labourers downed tools and refused to work this week after claiming they had not been paid by their employer... Witnesses said they heard the labourers shouting while one security guard claimed he saw an employee throw a key to the construction site entrance into the sea... "afterwards police arrived and the workers separated” [said the guard]... Witnesses described seeing about 300 workers walking off the premises. Police arrived 10 minutes later to deal with the dispute... “I asked the security guard what was going on and he said they [the workers] had not been paid,” said one observer. Police and the Ministry for Human Resources and Emiratisation were contacted for comment but no one was made available. It is not known if the dispute has now been settled. Labourers working at the same site also took to the streets last November, again in a dispute over pay.