DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The government has
ordered ministers and construction companies to review salaries and
possibly set a minimum wage in an effort to avert turmoil on the labor
market because of a strike by about 40,000 Asian construction workers
startclickprintexclude
PURGE: /2007/BUSINESS/11/08/strike.minimumwage.ap/art.construction.workers.gi.afp.jpg KEEP ===========IMAGE============The strike -- in its sixth day Tuesday -- is one of the most crippling
in Dubai's construction frenzy, and has triggered a labor crisis in
this desert city-state that markets itself as a top Mideast business
and luxury tourist hub.
/PURGE: /2007/BUSINESS/11/08/strike.minimumwage.ap/art.construction.workers.gi.afp.jpg
endclickprintexclude The workers have refused to work for
Dubai construction giant Arabtec at a hotel site that is part of the
world's tallest skyscraper being built. They are complaining about low
salaries, soaring living costs and poor working conditions.
The
walkout has prompted the government to announce the creation of a joint
salary reviewing committee, made up of labor ministry officials and
construction companies' representatives.
The move, reported by
the state WAM news agency this week, was a clear indication the
Emirates is taking critical note of the worker's grievances and not
dismissing them as just a private sector problem.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/11/08/strike.minimumwage.ap/index.html
Its gone on for six days. How long did the writers strike here in the US last again? Conditions for workers there suck, for sure, but it seems like steps are being taken, quickly at that, to improve them.
As for big business, I'm not going to help or deny your point. I just think these buildings look cool.