Unjust Transitions Climate Migration, Heat Stress, and Labour Exploitation in the United Arab Emirates
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
Siemens Energy AG - ClientOther
Not Reported ( Sector not reported/applicable ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Kenya , Security companies , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Services: General , Women , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Uganda , Transport: General , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Security companies , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - South Africa , Renewable energy , Women , Unknown migration status )Issues
Heat exposure , Wage Theft , Sexual harassment , Intimidation , Denial of leave , Right to Food , Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discrimination , Recruitment Fees , Contract Substitution , Excessive production targets , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Mandatory overtime , Occupational Health & Safety , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Withholding PassportsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Equidem
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Siemens responded to the Resource Centre's request for comment, and said: Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the recent report from Equidem that alleges labor rights violations experienced by workers employed by our subcontractors in the United Arab Emirates. We take these allegations very seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and the protection of human rights. While we appreciate the concerns raised by Equidem, we have not received the necessary information to investigate the alleged human rights violations in the UAE. We will investigate these concerns and take appropriate and necessary remedial action once we receive the requested additional information [...] We would like to take this opportunity to highlight our commitment to human rights, which is reflected in our human rights policy statement (attached for your reference). We have implemented policies and procedures to prevent human rights abuses and labor exploitation and provide training and education to our employees and suppliers on ethical conduct and human rights. We also have a Code of Conduct for Suppliers that outlines our expectations for our business partners and take any violations of these standards very seriously. We take all allegations of human rights violations seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy for such violations. If any violations are identified, we take remedial action to ensure that the rights of migrant workers are protected within our operations in the United Arab Emirates. We appreciate your interest in this matter and are happy to provide further information upon request.
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
Talabat (part of Delivery Hero) - ClientOther
Not Reported ( Catering & food services ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Express delivery , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Express delivery , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Express delivery , Gender not reported )Issues
Occupational Health & Safety , Heat exposure , Injuries , Wage Theft , Recruitment Fees , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Withholding Passports , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Access to Information , Intimidation , Denial of leaveResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Equidem
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In response to BHRRC, Talabat said: [...] Firstly, we want to express our appreciation for all the work done by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre to promote transparency, creating an online resource tool on corporate track records with regards to human rights. Because, once you know, you cannot unknow. Also, thank you for giving us the time and opportunity to respond to the recent Equidem report prior to publication... We are taking this opportunity to provide a response to clarify our position and views on the Equidem report whilst we chose not to respond to Equidem directly after having reviewed the Equidem report and considering the organisation’s approach towards us as a respectable organisation. With regards to the merit of the claims: whenever made aware we will always look into and address any concerns raised regarding logistic provider companies, as we are committed to upholding contractual standards and legal compliance. Where breaches are identified, appropriate action will be taken. We are also proactively evaluating ways to further enhance our ecosystem, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and improving the industry standards. In short, we welcome any constructive and collaborative effort that strives to uphold the rights and welfare of workers. We emphasise our commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices and we remain dedicated to transparency and improvement, mindful of our responsibility to all stakeholders in our ecosystem. [...]
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
Dubai Expo City - ClientOther
Not Reported ( Sector not reported/applicable ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - Location unknown , Restaurants & bars , Women , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Security companies , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Retail , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Postal services , Gender not reported )Issues
Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discrimination , Recruitment Fees , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Intimidation , Wage Theft , Denial of leave , Right to Food , Heat exposure , Occupational Health & Safety , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Access to Non-Judicial RemedyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Equidem
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Expo City said: The welfare of everyone working at Expo City Dubai is our number one priority and we have best-practice policies, standards and processes in place to ensure the health safety and wellbeing of everyone on our site. At each stage of the workers’ journey with Expo City Dubai, our dedicated Worker Welfare team helps them understand their work-related rights, as well as provide access to Expo City-owned support mechanisms through inductions, videos, poster campaigns and training in their native languages. Contractors are also obliged to hold regular Worker Welfare Committees, to be held every two months as a minimum, with elected worker representatives. The Expo City freephone worker hotline is available in nine languages (English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Tagalog, Bengali, Mandarin) and can be accessed anonymously. Worker Connect, Expo City’s multi-language (English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Nepali, and Bengali) mobile app, also allows issues to be reported anonymously while acting as a one-stop-shop for educating workers on their rights. In addition, we conduct regular face-to-face and unannounced interviews with workers on the ground on a confidential basis.
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Projects
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park - SiteOther
Not Reported ( Solar energy ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - Asia & Pacific , Solar energy , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - South Africa - Sector unknown , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Engineering , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Sri Lanka , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Security companies , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discrimination , Excessive production targets , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Heat exposure , Intimidation , Recruitment Fees , Wage Theft , Mandatory overtime , Right to Food , Occupational Health & Safety , Mental Health , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Denial of leave , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Withholding PassportsResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Projects
Al Dhafra Solar Project - SiteOther
Not Reported ( Solar energy ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Engineering , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Recruitment Fees , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Occupational Health & Safety , Heat exposure , Excessive production targets , Wage Theft , Intimidation , Denial of leave , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Right to Food , Withholding Passports , Access to Non-Judicial RemedyResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Projects
Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Plant - SiteOther
Not Reported ( Solar energy ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh - Sector unknown , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Africa , Transport: General , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Intimidation , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Heat exposure , Occupational Health & Safety , Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discrimination , Wage Theft , Right to Food , Withholding Passports , Access to Non-Judicial RemedyResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: NGO
Summary
Date Reported: 20 Nov 2023
Location: United Arab Emirates
Projects
Sir Yani Bas Wind Farm - SiteOther
Not Reported ( Wind energy ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Asia & Pacific - Sector unknown , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Pakistan - Sector unknown , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discrimination , Heat exposure , IntimidationResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: NGO
...Workers at the heart of the United Arab Emirates's renewable and gig sectors, and at the site that will host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) have left homes in Africa and Asia because of climate change only to be subjected to physical abuse, heat stress, exploitation and discrimination, a new report from Equidem reveals. Serious labour violations have taken place at the site of COP28, Expo City, as well as at five renewable energy firms, including Siemens Energy.
Based on correspondence with 248 workers, and interviews with 102, the expansive report offers unprecedented insight into the renewables, construction, security, and delivery sectors in the UAE, shedding light on both industrial and service sector working conditions for 9 million migrant workers.
The shining facilities at Expo City Dubai boast internationally lauded solar and wind parks and a booming local gig economy. Underneath that cheerful exterior, however, women and men from some of the poorest countries on earth are falling victim to an unjust transition: Migrant workers from Africa and Asia are being subjected to serious human rights abuses in a nation whose oil and gas-powered economy is at the heart of the planet’s climate crisis...