Dubai: Hundreds of labourers, including Indians, demanding a salary hike and better working conditions, staged a violent protest outside their labour camp near here.

The police rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control and persuaded the labourers to return to their labour camp, a media report said today. However, a number of vehicles were damaged during the demonstration which also disrupted traffic in the vicinity for a while. The police later cordoned off the labour camp area as a precautionary measure, the report said.

UAE Minister of Labour Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi warned that his ministry would not hesitate in deporting the workers who had vandalised the vehicles including some police vehicles and public properties. "The ministry will not hesitate in taking necessary measures to deport whatever numbers of workers found responsible for such acts. We will not be lenient towards whoever tampers with the security of the state and safety of residents," he said.

Humeid bin Demas, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labour (MoL), said the labourers had "breached their contractual obligations" by resorting to such a protest. "The workers have been given time till today to resume their duties. Refusal to do so may lead to a cancellation of their labour permits and a life ban on entry to the UAE," said Demas.

"Our monthly salary is a mere Dh600. What we would like is that this is raised to Dh1,000 and in case of qualified technicians to Dh1,200. But despite repeated requests, the company management has not responded favourably," two of the workers told Khaleej Times.

Source : PTI