Abu Dhabi's cleaners seek better pay and conditions

Some 2,500 cleaners spent three hours protesting in Musaffah recently in the hope of winning better pay and living conditions. Their protest finished when police and officials from the labour department intervened.

The workers had written to their employer requesting an increase in basic salary from Dh450 a month to Dh600 and a doubling of the length of their vacation period from 30 days once every two years to 60 days once every two years, to allow them to spend more time at their homes in such places as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. They also requested better quality food.

Gulf News reports one of the workers as saying that if anyone needs to make an emergency visit home, he first has to persuade five co-workers to act as guarantors. If he does not subsequently return to work, the employer imposes a fine of Dh1,500 on each guarantor - the equivalent of what can be for some, more than three months' wages.

The publication quotes another worker as saying that even the salaries of new employees and those returning from vacation are withheld for three months. This particular employee, who has been working for the company for more than 10 years, claims to be receiving the same basic salary as when he started out - Dh450 a month - and around Dh100 for overtime.

We understand that employees pay around Dh100 for two meals in the company mess and another Dh60 for breakfast bought outside, which does not leave them much at the end of the week.

We also understand that despite repeated attempts by Gulf News to get comments from the company, no-one would speak to them.

5th July 2007