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Al Ahmadiya Contracting workers to be prosecuted for violent protest

DUBAI — A group of 26 workers of Al Ahmadiya Contracting and Trading Co., who were involved in violent protests on their construction sites at Dubai Marina recently, have been referred by the Dubai Public Prosecution to the Dubai Court and will be prosecuted.

Lieutenant Riyad Al Shafi from the Dubai Human Rights Department at Dubai Police said: “Workers involved in any labour strike or destruction of public property in the Emirate, without just cause, will be referred to public prosecution and the court, and later deported.

He also called upon workers not to be misled by self-proclaimed labor leaders who instigate such strikes. They should respect the laws of the land and if they have any problems they should negotiate with the authorities concerned.

He said the Dubai Police has launched a 24-hour hotline to receive labor complaints and has managed to solve several problems faced by the workers who chose to call up on the hotline.

He added that His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai has ordered a detailed study of the causes and outcomes of recent strikes.

However, the violent protest in which the 26 laborers were involved on April 27 saw more than 2,000 infuriated laborers blocking the company's construction site at Dubai Marina, damaging eight cars and two buses, destroying office property and documents, and roughing up a site engineer.

The riot control wing of Dubai Police had rushed to the scene to control the situation and the police later succeeded in dispersing the agitating workers.

• UAE