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Plans to build cities for the low-income groups hailed

ABU DHABI — The Abu Dhabi government’s announcement of plans for building cities for labourers has been widely hailed.

Many view the massive project to build residential cities for limited-income labourers in Abu Dhabi as a boon as many companies, especially contracting firms, have found it difficult to undertake new projects in the emirate due to a shortage in the housing units for workers.

Walid Shehiber, director-general of Consolidated Contracting Company (CCC), said the step is very important, "the timely oxygen refreshing the market as the companies have stopped signing new project contracts in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain because of the accommodation problem".

Humaid bin Deemas, Assistant Under-secretary of the Ministry of Labour (MoL), said, "The workers really deserve this. The accommodation units here are too old and the residential cities for labourers will open a new era of respect for the rights of workers to live in a clean, suitable and safe environment."

He added that the ministry is focusing on the accommodation and has made it a mandatory condition to issue work permits.

"The move has to be added to the UAE's achievements on protecting the workers' rights, because the workers are our partners in building and developing the country. They should live in suitable conditions and we have to work towards this aim," Bin Deemas pointed out.

• UAE