lunch break

construction workers in Dubai, 2011.

Construction workers in Dubai, mostly recruited from countries like Bangladesh or Pakistan, use to work very hard for a very low salary. Construction workers working for Arabtec, for example, receive a basic salary of DH650 monthly. At the beginning of January, 3000 construction workers instigated a protest over wage increases at Arabtec. 70 workers who coerced their co-workers into protesting were arrested and therefore dangerous, according to the police, who argues "we cannot keep people here who create disorder." Probably nothing will change. ( source: The National, January 27, 2011 )