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FAMILIES IN AJMAN COMPLAIN ABOUT LABOURERS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

A large number of families residing in Al Nuaimia have complained about the existence of traditional houses that are occupied by labourers of various companies and factories in residential areas.

Many companies hire traditional houses for its labourers in several residential areas in Al Nuaimia, instead of establishing camps for them in the industrial areas. These labourers — who live in the residential areas among families — cause disturbance and discomfort to residents.

Marwa Hilal, a resident, said that labourers in traditional houses, close to their residence, are often sitting on their terraces without wearing decent clothes, and some of them drink alcohol and fight with each other. Those who sit on the terrace expose themselves and their indecent mannerisms to all residents residing in the neighbourhood who feel uncomfortable watching them. These labourers are also found peeping into homes, watching the women and children inside their rooms and balconies of apartments in the building around these camps.

Khalid Abu Saif said: “I’m a father of two daughters whose ages are five and six years old. I feel very worried about them when they go out in the street to buy something from the grocery or shops simply because of the labourers living in the vicinity.” He said that their stay in the residential areas is affecting our peace of mind and security, after all the happenings are reported daily in the media about frustrated workers, Abu Saif said, adding that these labourers are bachelors and are here without their families for a long period of time, and can resort to wrong practices and odd behaviours that can affect our children, especially young girls. Abu Saif said that during the night, the labourers crowd around coffee shops and groceries for tea, and talk in loud voices disturbing the sleep of our children who are supposed to wake up early to go to school.

Mirgani Akasha, another resident, said that in fact, these labourers shouldn’t be allowed to be in the middle of residential areas housing families. But the greedy owners of the companies find it cheaper than constructing labour camps in industrial areas. They think there is no need for for them to build a camp for less than 50 workers, and therefore, they hire such houses and put up the workers without the knowledge of the landlord. “To run their business, they provide accommodation to the labourers at the cost of other people’s peace of mind. Authorities should take action against the owners of the companies and remove such houses from residential areas,” she said.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, the Ajman Municipality officials said that that the licence department would not provide any company licence without showing a proof of labourers’ accommodation in industrial areas. The municipality would not allow any labourers’ camps in residential areas. The municipality will send its inspectors to find out and get more information about these camps and take action to solve the problem and ensure safety and security for the public.