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Article

31 Aug 2009

Author:
Praveen Menon & Tim Brooks, The National [United Arab Emirates]

Labourers in Dubai stage protests over pay [United Arab Emirates]

Hundreds of construction workers in Dubai took to the streets yesterday morning seeking better wages and benefits. Work stopped almost simultaneously at two construction sites operated by Al Habtoor Engineering…The demonstration… was triggered by a lack of overtime pay caused by the postponement or cancellation of construction projects…[Al Habtoor worker Abdul Rahman] said. “With salaries like Dh600 or Dh700, what will I eat and what will I send home?”… Traffic was blocked…until police and Ministry of Labour officials arrived. “We have agreed with them on their concerns. It’s a matter of ensuring that they get good benefits for their work and we get the productivity we are looking for,” said David Savage, the managing director of [Al Habtoor].