Minimum wage and timely payment of salaries for Dubai workers

Thousands of laborers arrive in Dubai every year from South Asia. These poorly paid construction workers enter the construction industry in Dubai, and often step into a nightmare of long hour work days with no day of rest, earning meager wages that may be withheld or unpaid altogether. Standard salary for a full days of work is in the range of 4 to 6 US dollars. These workers face drastic living conditions which may be considered unfit for human beings in most of the other countries. They are often accommodated in cramped labor-camps, up to twenty to a room, without privacy. They can do little to relieve their misery. Some employers take their passports and "lose" them so workers cannot return home. It is also illegal for workers to strike, which means that workers are often asked to work without pay and without the documents to return home. Some workers say they haven't been home in years and that their salary has been withheld to pay back loans.

We the undersigned call on the Government of Dubai to ensure construction companies do not violate contractual obligations to their workers. We also call on the Government of Dubai to adopt the minimum wage system according to the living expenses in Dubai. We believe these workers have the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and of their families, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services. We are determined to provide this right to the workers of Dubai by ensuring timely payment of their agreed salaries with a set minimum by the Government of Dubai.

We encourage all to step up and spread the word. We thank you all for participating and for your support.