Today's Edition
RAJEEV CHERIAN (ABU DHABI)
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has issued new guidelines for labour accommodation, setting standards aimed at providing workers with a safe, healthy and stable living environment.
The guidelines cover site requirements, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning, bedrooms and annexes, sanitary facilities, kitchens, dining halls and lounges, laundry areas, medical services, and other related provisions.
Under the new rules, all labour accommodation facilities must provide free internet network coverage.
Facilities housing 1,000 workers or more must also operate an on-site medical clinic 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A fully equipped first-aid room, including necessary equipment and a medicine storage box, is also mandatory.
To help prevent the spread of disease, accommodation facilities must implement precautionary measures, and provide isolation rooms that correspond to the number of occupants.
The guidelines strictly prohibit cooking in rooms, the presence of cooking appliances, and indoor smoking. They also require strict compliance with Civil Defence standards, including the provision of emergency exits, fire systems, extinguishers, hoses, alarm devices, and sensors.
Sleeping on the floor is banned, and each worker must be provided with a designated sleeping space, even in shift-based arrangements. Adequate lockers must also be provided for each worker, while triple-decker beds are not allowed.
Accommodation facilities are required to include sports courts, and organise recreational events for residents during official holidays. They must also provide spaces for light physical and sports activities, such as open yards or multi-purpose facilities.
Waste disposal mechanisms must comply with the conditions set by the relevant authority, while all accommodation facilities must be equipped with a comprehensive security surveillance system.
The guidelines classify violations into three categories: high, medium and low risk.
High-risk violations include a lack of clean water, absence of electricity, expired safety certificates, malfunctioning air conditioners, or inadequate ventilation, as well as exposed or improperly installed electrical wiring that could cause electric shock or fire.
Exceeding the permitted number of workers per room, malfunctioning toilets, damaged sewage networks, absence of emergency exits, lack of an equipped on-site clinic and cracks or structural hazards in walls or ceilings are also classified as high-risk violations, among other breaches.
