DUBAI — Workers in Dubai have hailed the decision of the Environmental and Health Affairs Committee for Labourers to shut-down more than 100 labour camps in Al Muhaisina area for flouting the rules set by the municipality for better upkeep of their residential facilities.

The decision may prove favourable for a large number of workers living in unhygienic conditions, they said. This shows the government’s concern for the well-being of the workers. Many others, however,  expressed concern on the closing down of the camps as it would make them homeless very soon.

A worker living in one of the affected camp in Muhaisnah said “although companies have been given one year time to find alternate accommodations for the workers, but it may not be easy for the companies to find new accommodation under the current circumstances where rents have gone up drastically in Dubai.”

“A large number of workers may be ordered to return home, said another worker expressing his fear over the decision because a number of companies will be forced to cut down on their present labour force to house them in new labour camps.”

Shabeer Musfer, a labour from a camp in Al Quoz hailed the closure of  labour camps which violate healthy and safety conditions saying it will help alleviate the suffering of many who are housed in unhealthy camps violating the basic hygiene and heath standards. But, how many of these companies will comply with the Municipality committee’s conditions in the future is left to be desired.

Musfer said the decision is a great step towards preserving the labour rights and expects it will have a positive impact on people’s life. “In our labour camp we are suffering from foul smell emanating from sewerage leakage. Besides, a large number of labourers are living in rooms that have no proper ventilation, windows or air-conditioners and a number of the camps are infested with mosquitoes and other insects due to the lack of hygiene,”  he said, hoping the committee will soon take action against labour camp owners in other parts of the emirate.

Raja Gopal, another worker from a camp in Jebel Ali  also welcomed the decision and hoped that all labour camps which fail to comply with  health conditions will be closed down soon. “We have been waiting for such a step for long time. We think that the closure of such camps will make other violators think twice before exploiting the labourers and we urge the government to punish the companies which violate the laws,” Gopal pointed out.