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International human rights campaigners Human Rights Watch (HRW) has slammed Al Habtoor over their “obscene” attitude to their staff following a strike last week.
Last week, Al Habtoor managing director David Savage said, “The company is in the process of implementing a new productivity-based incentive scheme, whereby workers are rewarded for increased productivity as opposed to working longer hours. The new scheme is expected to result in workers increasing - not decreasing - their take-home pay.”
Speaking to Construction Week, HRW Middle East head of research Samer Muscati criticised Al Habtoor’s payment scheme and raised questions over the personal safety of its workers.
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“There is something a bit obscene with company bosses telling workers, who toil for long hours in the punishing summer heat of the Emirates for low wages, that they are just not sweating enough to justify higher pay,” said Muscati. “Al Habtoor’s proposal that workers work harder (or, as the company put it, increase productivity) could well result in an increase in the number of work-related accidents.”
Muscati was also concerned about the fate of the strike leaders. “We know that in the UAE, workers who attempt to organise, bargain collectively, or strike to demand their rights may face termination and deportation.”
A spokesperson for Al Habtoor said, "Al Habtoor disagrees with the comments of Human Rights Watch. The company continuously reviews the employment contract conditions – including accommodation - of its workforce. Our ability to attract and retain a high quality workforce is an important element of the company’s success."
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FEATURED COMMENT
The govt. should take some serious steps to monitor the construction companies in terms of wages payment,labour amenities, productivity issues,etc.