DUBAI // New labour camps will have to limit the number of workers they can put in one room and have minimum living standards, the head of the Dubai Municipality said yesterday.
Announcing a new set of regulations for the camps, Hussain Nasser Lootah said existing camps that failed inspections would be fined and could eventually be shut down.
"Standards have been set for the number of people living in each room depending on room size in all new camps," said Mr Lootah, the municipality's director general.
"Also, there would be new regulations in areas like service and maintenance inside these camps. There are lots of new labour camps coming up in the city and they would all have to meet these new living standards."
Worker accommodations have recently come under an international spotlight. A BBC documentary shown earlier this month claimed that some construction workers were living in "inhumane conditions".
Municipal officials said yesterday that more than 500 labour accommodations in Dubai over the past two years and found 40 per cent to be substandard.
They said the new rules called for each worker to have at least 40 square feet of living space and at least one bathroom per eight employees.
Other regulations set cleanliness standards for areas where food is prepared, and provide for medical and recreational facilities.
They said the emirate's 36 inspectors were continuing visit the camps, some of which were built in the 1970s.
The municipality last year launched a three-year plan to bring all its camps in line with minimum standards, including a specific plan for the large Sonapur camp.
"The routine inspections continue in these camps and we are giving notices and issuing fines to camp owners who are violating the living standards," Mr Lootah said.
Officials from the municipality's buildings inspection department warned that labour camps operators faced severe penalties if they did not meet the new standards.
It said it had ordered random checks in such areas as Jebel Ali, Muhaisnah, and Al Quoz.
Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman, the head of the department, said: "If the inspectors report any problem at a camp, we immediately issue a notice to the owner and ask them to rectify it. If they do not obey, further action will be taken even leading to closure of such camps."
Mr Rahman said at least two inspectors were carrying out checks in each area.
"These inspectors specialise in checking labour camps and they conduct random inspections to ensure everything is in order," he said.
In addition to random checks, there are regular inspections every three days, he said.
On the issue of sewage problems in some camps, which was raised by the BCC programme, Mr Rahman said: "We know there are some problems and we are dealing with them effectively. We are concerned about the well-being of the people living in these camps."
Overflowing septic tanks have caused flooding of sewage water near, and even inside, labour accommodation over the past few months.
Mr Rahman stressed that inspections were a matter of routine.
"Our inspections are not based on any media report," he said.
"There are thousands of buildings in Dubai and our inspectors are working constantly to check all of them. If there is a problem they immediately alert us."
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The specs
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
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Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
A State of Passion
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The specs
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
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