Conditions for construction workers in Abu Dhabi involve significant labor rights issues, including long hours, wage theft, passport confiscation, hazardous environments (extreme heat, accidents), and debt from recruitment fees, despite UAE laws and government initiatives, with many workers from South Asia facing precarious situations, inadequate support, and exploitation that impacts their health and finances, although there are also ongoing efforts by authorities to improve safety and adherence to labor laws, especially concerning heat breaks and worker awareness
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Key Challenges
- Long Hours & Wage Issues: Workers often exceed legal limits (8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week) and face delayed or withheld wages, notes ECDHR and Human Rights Watch.
- Recruitment Fees & Debt: Exorbitant fees paid to recruiters leave workers heavily indebted, impacting remittances to families.
- Passport & Movement Restrictions: Employers often retain passports, preventing workers from leaving or changing jobs, notes Human Rights Watch and Business and Human Rights Centre.
- Unsafe Conditions: Extreme heat, falls, and hazardous materials are risks, with inadequate medical care and reporting of injuries.
- Lack of Accountability: Weak enforcement of labor laws, lack of unions, and inadequate oversight by authorities persist, reports Human Rights Watch and Human Rights Watch.