Demolition notices for poor quality labour houses
The Dubai Municipality has intensified its move to send notices for demolition of those labour accommodations which do not comply with the required rules, according to senior officials.
They said that they were concentrating on the accommodations situated in the Al Quoz area this year.
Salem bin Mesmar, Assistant Director General for Health, Safety and Environment Monitoring sector at the municipality, said that the labour accommodations situated in the area had been included in three categories after their inspection.
"Last year, we had concentrated on the accommodations in Al Awir area. The Dubai Municipality had taken stern actions against many facilities and the situation had improved. This year, we have shifted our focus on Al Quoz area. After the initial inspection, we have divided the accommodations into categories A, B and C," he said.
"Accommodations where living conditions are okay, but these need improvements are in Category A. They have been given a grace period of one year to make the changes. A grace period of six months has been given to the B category accommodations. The category C includes those accommodations where the living conditions are very poor and need immediate redressal. They have been given three months to make changes," added Mesmar.
The official pointed out that the companies who failed to complete the necessary job within the stipulated time would be heavily fined.
"We would be looking at the labour accommodations of all the areas in the emirate in phases," he said.
Last year, the municipality had enforced a set of regulations for the labour accommodations.
The amendments included providing at least 40 square feet of space for every labourer staying in a labour accommodation and at least one bathroom for every eight labourers, which is the maximum number of labourers that can be accommodated in one room.
The amendments stated that no temporary structures would be used in labour accommodations. Any material that contains asbestos or anything that is harmful to environment or public health would not be used. The flooring should be done using non-slippery materials that are easy to clean and wash and do not get affected by detergents.
Other amenities mentioned in the regulations included provision of single bed and clothes cabinet for each labourer, enough ventilation, natural or artificial light, thermal insulation, drainage, water supply, gas, electricity, fire-safety measures and health and environment preconditions.
The municipality said all rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and other halls should be air-conditioned and common services such as kitchen, multi-purpose halls for dining, watching television, labour accessories room, prayer hall, first-aid room and other services rooms should be made available on the ground floor. Toilets and bathrooms should be furnished with clothes hangers, soap containers, exhaust fans, hot water, mirrors and cabinets. Water tanks should be covered by sun shades to ensue cool water during summer. The municipality advised that there should be enough water coolers in each accommodation depending on the number of labourers residing there.
They said that they were concentrating on the accommodations situated in the Al Quoz area this year.
Salem bin Mesmar, Assistant Director General for Health, Safety and Environment Monitoring sector at the municipality, said that the labour accommodations situated in the area had been included in three categories after their inspection.
"Last year, we had concentrated on the accommodations in Al Awir area. The Dubai Municipality had taken stern actions against many facilities and the situation had improved. This year, we have shifted our focus on Al Quoz area. After the initial inspection, we have divided the accommodations into categories A, B and C," he said.
"Accommodations where living conditions are okay, but these need improvements are in Category A. They have been given a grace period of one year to make the changes. A grace period of six months has been given to the B category accommodations. The category C includes those accommodations where the living conditions are very poor and need immediate redressal. They have been given three months to make changes," added Mesmar.
The official pointed out that the companies who failed to complete the necessary job within the stipulated time would be heavily fined.
"We would be looking at the labour accommodations of all the areas in the emirate in phases," he said.
Last year, the municipality had enforced a set of regulations for the labour accommodations.
The amendments included providing at least 40 square feet of space for every labourer staying in a labour accommodation and at least one bathroom for every eight labourers, which is the maximum number of labourers that can be accommodated in one room.
The amendments stated that no temporary structures would be used in labour accommodations. Any material that contains asbestos or anything that is harmful to environment or public health would not be used. The flooring should be done using non-slippery materials that are easy to clean and wash and do not get affected by detergents.
Other amenities mentioned in the regulations included provision of single bed and clothes cabinet for each labourer, enough ventilation, natural or artificial light, thermal insulation, drainage, water supply, gas, electricity, fire-safety measures and health and environment preconditions.
The municipality said all rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and other halls should be air-conditioned and common services such as kitchen, multi-purpose halls for dining, watching television, labour accessories room, prayer hall, first-aid room and other services rooms should be made available on the ground floor. Toilets and bathrooms should be furnished with clothes hangers, soap containers, exhaust fans, hot water, mirrors and cabinets. Water tanks should be covered by sun shades to ensue cool water during summer. The municipality advised that there should be enough water coolers in each accommodation depending on the number of labourers residing there.
/Khaleej Times/
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