DUBAI// More than 460 construction workers involved in a strike last week are being sent back to their home countries after quitting their jobs.
The Arabtec staff, who earn between Dh650 and Dh1,200 a month, downed tools and refused to leave their accommodations for four days after asking that their Dh350 food allowance be paid in cash instead of daily meals.
When their demands were not met, the men opted to leave the UAE instead of returning to their work sites. An Arabtec statement last week said the strike had no impact on work being carried out at any of its developments.
Dubai Police said the men from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan were not being deported but had opted to return home voluntarily.
"The visas of about 463 workers are being cancelled," said Capt Reyadh Al Shafi, a representative of Dubai Police's Human Rights Department and member of the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs in Dubai.
"We haven't forced anyone to go back. They said they didn't want to work and we are helping them return. The company has given their salary and paid for their tickets.
"More than half have already gone back. We can't send all of them in one plane as it is difficult to get tickets. We will send everybody by the end of this week."
Officials at the labour and immigration departments will decide if the men will be allowed to return to work in the UAE.
Arabtec said last week the striking workers would be held accountable.
The company said: "Working closely with the Ministry of Labour, the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Police and other authorities, the stoppage was resolved amicably. This unwarranted stoppage has been instigated by a minority group who will be held accountable for their actions."
Most of the striking men were bused back to work sites from their labour accommodations in Dubai last Monday. However, a small group remained in their labour camps until Tuesday.
Workers said an Indian foreman had been beaten up by a group of labourers at a villa project in Al Barsha.
A police spokesman said yesterday no one had been charged as the foreman, who suffered minor injuries, did not press charges.
Capt Al Shafi said it was illegal for workers to instigate a strike.
"When a worker finishes his contract, he can check with the company if they will increase his salary. This is the law of the UAE and it does not allow to have a leader or make a strike."
He said officials from the Bangladesh consulate had met with the workers and advised them against the strike.
The Bangladesh embassy in Abu Dhabi said it did not know how many of its citizens were returning home.
"We have been told that some have been taken into custody and are being questioned," said Mohammed Imran, the Bangladeshi ambassador.
About 15 of the men who are going home are Indian nationals. It is not known how many Pakistani workers are among the returning Arabtec staff.
pkannan@thenational.ae
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● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Joker: Folie a Deux
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Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company%20Profile
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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Chinese Grand Prix schedule (in UAE time)
Friday: First practice - 6am; Second practice - 10am
Saturday: Final practice - 7am; Qualifying - 10am
Sunday: Chinese Grand Prix - 10.10am
Company%20profile
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Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
COMPANY PROFILE
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Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
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Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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COMPANY PROFILE
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Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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Transmission: nine-speed automatic
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Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
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Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
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Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
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Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Singham Again
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Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
MATCH INFO
Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)
Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')
