UAE firms can face up to Dh200,000 fine for this violation

Poor accommodations pose a threat to the safety and health of workers, say officials.

 Firms that do not show signs of improving the living conditions of their workers by early April will face fines of up to Dh200,000, authorities have warned.
The Abu Dhabi Municipality said some firms, especially in Musaffah Industrial area, need to provide decent accommodations that meet health and safety standards for their workers.
Officials noted that property owners and investors in Musaffah area have been given till April 6 to collect applications for assessment of their properties, including houses for workers, from the Musaffah Municipal Centre to ensure that they all meet Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) requirements.
Owners of properties that don't meet EHS standards will be told to clean up their act by renovating and make improvements in the houses within a specified period.
Housing properties that will be found in poor condition after the grace period will be fined up to Dh200,000, say municipal officials. In past months, the municipality has fined firms for making their employees live in overcrowded and substandard accommodations.
In a recent crackdown in December last year, Abu Dhabi Municipality issued 14 offences worth Dh325,000 in fines against firms that had failed to improve workers' living environment by providing them decent accommodation.
The civic body also released images of living quarters in Abu Dhabi Island, Baniyas, Wathba, and Shamkha in which workers slept on three and two-decker beds, in small, overcrowded rooms.
In some images, kitchen items like saucepans and plates were placed under and next to the workers' beds.
Municipal officials said such poor accommodations pose a threat to the safety of workers and the community. Eight firms were also fined in October 2016 for making their employees live in poor accommodations.
Abu Dhabi Municipality said the violators were caught during inspections targeting permanent and temporary workers' accommodations in Al Shahama and suburban areas.
"Compliance with such requirements would protect workers, ensure compliance with environmental, health and safety standards, provide maximum safety at work and ensure global health and safety standards," said a municipal official.
The Municipality is determined to continue its regular inspection campaigns this year targeting workers' temporary accommodations in collaboration with strategic partners including Abu Dhabi Police and other concerned government bodies.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com