DUBAI, 24 March 2006 — A leading UAE construction firm admitted there was unrest among laborers this week, as newspapers reported hundreds of foreign construction workers rioted near the site of a major project in Dubai. The company said yesterday it had resolved the dispute and work had resumed.
“Regrettably ... there has been unrest on certain of our projects in Dubai as a consequence of misinformation and misunderstanding with some of our work force,” said a company statement.
Foreign workers employed by Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke smashed cars on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at the Burj Dubai development to demand higher wages and protest against unpaid overtime and salary cuts, newspapers said.
Burj Dubai is being developed by major realtor Emaar Properties, which says it will be the world’s tallest building upon completion in 2008. “These issues have now been addressed and resolved through official channels with the assistance of the Dubai Labor Ministry...We are pleased to report that following positive discussions the employees on our sites are now returning to work.”
The main contractor of the tower project itself, Samsung-Besix-Arabtec JV, said in a statement that “the labor disturbances...have not taken place on the Burj tower project”.
An official close to the project told Reuters: “The riot was on the outskirts of the Burj Dubai project, not in the construction area of the tower.” Newspapers quoted police as saying no arrests had been made.
Thousands of foreign workers, mostly from India and other Asian countries, have gone on strike over unpaid wages in the United Arab Emirates in the past year.
