Slave Labor in Dubai

Earning its reputation as "the Vegas of the Middle East," Dubai did not begin booming until the past fifty years. Plans for construction in the next five years are so great that when described are almost impossible to imagine. If all goes according to plan, among other things, Dubai will possess the world's tallest skyscraper and biggest theme park. I was in utter amazement when I discovered Dubai would also possess the world's most luxurious underwater hotel which is accessible by submarine train. In my opinion, the most unfathomable accomplishment achieved by Dubai is possessing the world's largest mall. With American consumerism at its peak, I would have bet that we would have achieved this feat. Saunders describes his first response to Dubai as wanting to "bring my family over, set up shop in my hut-evoking villa, and never go home again." He describes it as making you feel "happy and heroic and a little breathless."

Saunders describes Dubai as "the newest great city in the world." However, behind the glitter and luxury, the experiences of migrant workers in Dubai paint a much less attractive pictureÐ'--of wage exploitation, indebtedness to unscrupulous recruiters, and working conditions that are hazardous to the point of being deadly. These slave laborers are refused standard work rights including unionizing, giving them no recourse whatsoever. Hundreds of workers are killed each year due to work related accidents, with no remorse of any kind shown from the government; they are merely replaced. At wages less than one U.S dollar per hour, they are forced to share bunks in horrid labor camps or worn down apartments. Not to mention that upon entering Dubai, these people are virtually stripped of their life, including possessions, passports and exit visas. These people are seemingly turned into slaves, with no rights or voice of their own.

The work rights that these laborers possess really put the things which I take for granted into perspective. I could never imagine having to risk my life in order to perform my daily job. These hazardous work conditions result in an extremely high death and injury rate. Hundreds of these migrant workers die each year, with the government only able to account for a minute amount. This is greatly due to the fact that the government does not enforce its own law requiring employers to report worksite injuries or deaths. An estimated 880 deaths occurred from work related accidents in Dubai in 2005. However, of these 880 estimated deaths, only 39 were actually reported. Another extreme health hazard pertains to the extremely climatic conditions in which these workers spend the vast majority of their time. Heat-related illnesses are a manifestation of dangerous working conditions. Between the months of April to September temperatures rise well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit while between the months of July and August temperatures soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. An estimated 5000 workers per month are seen by doctors due to heat related illnesses.

Labor unions and organized protests are virtually unknown for these workers. Due to the fact that there is no structured way for the laborers to advocate on behalf of their rights, thousands of workers have resorted to public demonstrations fighting for better wages and conditions. After a string of highly publicized strikes and labor demonstrations, including one occurring from May to August 2005 when 7000 workers blocked Dubai's main thoroughfare to protest the company's non-payment of their wages, the UAE government promised to respect workers rights. However, despite promises to legalize trade unions, the government instead passed a new law banning labor strikes and announcing that any striking workers would be subject to deportation. Even when found guilty of violating a labor law,