Hotline for labour complaints in the UAE
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Workers having problems with their employers will soon be able to complain to Dubai Police any time of the day or night by calling the 24-hour hotline number 8005005 at Dubai Police Operations Room.
Workers can lodge their complaints in three languages including Arabic, English and Urdu. Lieutenant-Colonel Dr Mohammed Al Mur, Director of Dubai Police Human Rights Department, told that qualified staffs have been appointed to receive labour complaints over the hotline. "As soon as a complaint is received, the Operations Room will inform the officers concerned at the Human Rights Department who will then take up the issue with the labourers and the company," he said, adding that if the company was found violating Labour Laws, the department will take legal action against it. Dr Al Mur said the labour committee set up by General Shaikh Mohammed will continue with it's periodic visits to companies and labour camps to ensure that workers' rights were safeguarded. "The decision to introduce a hotline was taken as a solution to prevent labour strikes and protests," he said, adding that studies made by Dubai Police had revealed that workers protest for many reasons including non-payment of salaries, poor hygienic conditions, lack of accident insurance, holding back passports even after cancellation of visas and failure to pay end of service benefits and tickets to workers leaving the country. Dr Al Mur said some companies had tried to justify delays in payment of salaries, stating this was on account of delays in receiving payments from government agencies and bodies for projects executed or increase in input costs. "Irrespective of the reason, companies should have enough reserve money to cover workers' dues. Employers should comply with labour regulations and contracts with their employees, failing which they would face legal action," he added. More |
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