Workers in UAE cheered by pay hike prospect

Workers in the UAE are heaving a sigh of relief with 150 major contracting companies deciding to give a 15-20 per cent salary hike to their labour force.

Price hike has hit labourers hard with many of them going on strike in recent months to demand salary hike and better living conditions. The increase will benefit thousands of Indian workers in the country.

Labourers at the Jebel Ali and Sonapur labour accommodations said the news had brought them cheer. They said the going rate for unskilled workers ranged between Dh350 and Dh550 while the salary of skilled workers is between Dh700 and Dh1,200.

An official of the UAE Contractors' Association told Gulf News the decision had been taken by the companies bearing in mind the devaluation of the dollar and the rising cost of living.

"When and by what per cent the salary will be hiked depends on individual contracting companies. One important aspect that should not be overlooked is that the contracting companies have priced their contracts based on the old salaries and so the technicalities need to be worked out," added the official.