DUBAI, 25 March 2006 — Authorities in the Gulf emirate of Dubai promised to prosecute Asian workers who took part in violent protests this week at the construction site of the world’s tallest skyscraper, a local paper said yesterday. Some 2,500 mostly Asian workers at the Burj Dubai project site protested on Tuesday over their pay and work conditions with some turning violent and smashing cars and offices, causing damage estimated at $1 million.
“Riots and damaging others’ properties is against the law and those who were involved in these illegal practices will be investigated and submitted to justice,” Lt. Col. Rashid Bakhit, a member of a government committee for labor affairs, was quoted as saying by the paper.
The workers employed by the Al-Naboodah Laing O’Rourke company were still on strike Thursday and were joined by others working for the same contractor on the multi-billion-dollar expansion of the city airport.
