ALL labour accommodation in the UAE is expected to be to meet international best practices by 2014, according to a cabinet decision issued last month.
The “Manual of the General Criteria for Workers Accommodations” approved by the cabinet as per decision No 13 of 2009 provides a unified rule for labour accommodation standards in the country including free zones.
With effect from the beginning of September, municipality departments will not issue any permit for workers’ housing across the country, including free zones, unless those facilities fall in accordance with this cabinet decision and any related provisions issued by the Minister of Labour.
Municipalities across the country will have to apply the new criteria. Earlier, each municipality used to follow their own criteria which resulted in different emirates having different labour accommodation standards.
The government will give companies a maximum of five years starting from the date of implementation of the decision to either build new accommodation or upgrade the current ones to meet the new standards. The Ministry of Labour will be the monitoring body for this decision, working in tandem with other government bodies such as municipalities and civil defence department to ensure compliance of the rule.
Humaid bin Deemas, acting director general at the ministry, said in a statement that “a grace period was given to companies as the ministry took into consideration the demands and challenges of the labour market but at the same time the grace period should not be at the expense of workers’ rights.”
As per the criteria, accommodation should be located at a safe distance from sources of environmental pollution and noise. They should have concrete or brick walls and the building should not occupy more than 65 per cent of the total complex area. While the remaining area should be allocated to entertainment, parking yards, walkways and green spaces. The accommodation should have a fully-equipped recreation room including a separate area for rest and watching TV.
Each accommodation should have a medical clinic equipped to provide full services and with medical practitioners available around the clock.
They should also have sufficient sewerage facilities, air-conditioning, lighting systems, elevators, emergency exits, fire extinguisher systems and indoor air quality, which are in line with international best practices.
The number of workers allowed in each room, should not exceed eight to ten, with a commitment to provide individual space for each one of them.