Labourers in UAE deserve better

This refers to the story No rest areas means workers scramble to find shade during UAE midday break (August 1).

It’s not only UAE companies that are mistreating their workers, but others as well. These companies should be inspected often to make sure they are treating workers properly and adhering to the laws. Workers should have proper rest areas, proper breaks and proper amount of food and water. The buses that transport them should also be air-conditioned.

Name withheld by request

The death of the man napping on a site in Ras Al Khaimah was avoidable. If he had been given a proper place to rest during the hottest part of the day, he would still be alive.

Teri Coley Adams, Abu Dhabi

It’s time for the UAE to increase the minimum pay for labourers.

Ameerah Jolene-Ann van Heerden, Dubai

There need to be portable air-conditioned rooms where workers can rest during their break, similar to the portable offices that engineers sit in. I have often noticed workers sleeping in strange places and it would be easy not to notice them if you are distracted.

Elisabeth Kendall, Abu Dhabi

Debate on social issues helps grow understanding

I like Khalid Al Ameri's articles and the way he comments on the UAE's social issues (Emiratis must know that success is more than being able to afford a luxury lifestyle, July 31). Keep it up.

We always need to discuss these topics so as to become aware of the issues. That way we can reflect on the good and bad and improve ourselves. As young people, we will make mistakes, but we must learn from those errors. Would people stop judging us then? Never. But we should move forward.

Deena AlMansoori, Abu Dhabi

End occupation of Palestine

I write in reference to the news article Israel storms in after truce fails (August 2). Israel broke the 72-hour ceasefire by killing five Palestinians. Israel is continuously breaking ceasefires, and the media and politicians seem to always start their story with rockets being fired from Gaza.

The correct narrative should start with the illegal occupation of Palestine and the victims’ call to end the occupation of Palestine.

Marwa Miqoi, Morocco

The United States confirmed on July 30 that it had restocked Israel’s supplies of ammunition. This confirmation came a few hours after it strongly condemned the attack on a UN school in Gaza. The Israeli army had requested replenishment on July 20 to address the decline in stocks, the Pentagon said.

The US department of defence approved the sale three days later, confirmed a spokesman. The US said earlier that it was “committed to ensuring the security of Israel, and it is crucial to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a high capacity and reactive self-defence”. The arms sale is consistent with these objectives.

Part of the ammunition, worth about US$1 billion (Dh3.6bn) comes from stocks stored by the US military on Israeli soil for the use of the Israeli defence forces for emergencies.

The Pentagon spokesman stressed that these munitions were stored there “for several years, well before the current crisis” and that the “decision to issue ammunition from this stock was purely ministerial and did not require the approval of the White House”. But he did not say whether the White House was involved in the decision to sell ammunition to Israel. This is American hypocrisy. Shame on the US.

Ali Moulay, Dubai

Because of Israel’s behaviour, anti-Semitism is growing across the world.

Gérald Bau, France

Highlight dangers of illegal steroids

I appreciate The National for highlighting the dangers of illegal steroids (Use of illegal steroids on the rise among UAE women, August 1). As a sport nutritionist, I can say that there is a need for education on performance-enhancing supplements not only among the professionals in sport and fitness industries, but also among schoolchildren.

Vijay Ramburuth, Dubai