Besix workers turn violent, beat up their colleagues

DUBAI — The protesting workers of Besix contracting company, who have been agitating for the past five days for an increase in their salaries, turned violent late last night and assaulted some of their own colleagues — who they alleged had broken rank and chose to report for duty.

By Riyasbabu

Published: Sun 21 May 2006, 11:53 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 7:48 PM

A group of abut 300 workers came from another Besix labour camp to the Al Quoz camp No. 6. They alleged that some of the workers there had gone for work, despite the rest of their colleagues being on strike.

They smashed the window panes of the camp, threw stones on the company sign board, broke tables and chairs and beat up three workers – who had to be given emergency medical treatment on the spot when the ambulances came in.

The police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, even as most of the miscreants involved in the violence ran away from the labour camp.

“They came and shouted at us. When we told them that the company had moved the workers who had reported for duty to another camp in Al Aweer, they refused to listen to us and instead started asaulting us,” said one of those workers hurt in the incident.

Despite the threat of deportation by labour officials, thousands of Besix Construction Company workers did not report to work for the fifth consecutive day, except for a few number. The Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs had imposed a deadline for the workers to return to work yesterday or face legal action followed by deportation.

Rashid Bakheet, Member of the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs, told your favourite No. 1 newspaper, Khaleej Times, yesterday that the committee checked all the doculments of the company and visited the labour camp. The company is paying on time and the accommodation is good. The committee is satisfied with the company and it is a well- run company,” he said. “The workers’ demand of an increase in their salary to Dh1,000 and provision of Dh300 for food allowance is not an acceptable demand. They should abide by the labour contract they signed,” he added.

However, Khaleej Times has learnt that the problem has been referred to the labour ministry for necessary action against workers. Labour officials were not available for comment. Meanwhile, the workers of the company decided to hold firm to their demands, saying they will not settle for anything less than this. “We have asked for a minimum wage of Dh1,000 and a food allawance of Dh300 per month. We will not go back on our demands. If the authorities decide to deport us, they can go ahead and do it, because it is better for us to return home than work for Dh600,” said a worker. “I cannot save anything to send back home if I work for this nominal salary. The company should realise it and find a solution,” he added. Another worker said: “We will not stop our strike until we get the increase in the salary for all of us. We are here not to protest. But in this situation, we do not have any other option.”

The Besix management has decided to fufil several of the workers’ demands, including payment of food allowance, refunding money deducted as visa cost, air tickets for their destination, compensation in case of accidents, and free gas in the kitchen. But workers are not ready to accept anything less than an increase in the salary to Dh1,000.