TDIC refutes HRW report on Saadiyat Island project

Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi's leading tourism asset developer, has expressed its regret with a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report related to Saadiyat Island, one of TDIC's major projects in the UAE.

TDIC fully respects the role HRW plays in campaigning for human rights and has always co-operated with HRW in providing information related to the issues it raises in its report. However, the report not only neglects TDIC's policies, procedures and actions related to workers' welfare, but also makes misleading assertions and false assumptions due to HRW's questionable methodology and flawed research.

In its 2009 CSR report, which has been shared with HRW, TDIC outlined the actions it has taken to protect the rights and welfare of the workers on all TDIC developments, including Saadiyat Island. HRW's report is confusing in its allegations. In fact, construction has not yet commenced on the Saadiyat Cultural District where the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum projects are planned.

Meanwhile, TDIC has been building the Saadiyat Construction Village, one of the most advanced accommodation and living facilities for construction workers in the Middle East with the first 5,000 residents to be welcomed in July 2009.

TDIC categorically refutes allegations that it has discouraged or prevented any of its partners or its contractors from co-operating with HRW. TDIC has shared HRW's concerns with its Cultural District project partners and has forwarded all its communications with HRW to partners, contractors and other entities. TDIC in no way influenced any contractor in its decision to respond to HRW.

HRW made a number of claims and observations in its report dealing with specific issues. But most of these are policies that have been implemented by TDIC since its inception. However, this is not something HRW has recognised in its report; namely – confiscation of passports; using labour recruitment agencies; prompt payment for workers; provision of healthcare; workers' rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining; conciliation and mediation proceedings; investigating cases of breaches of labour law, as well as contractors that continue to work with labour agencies or sub-agencies; workers being informed of their rights under UAE laws; and making public data on the number and kinds of occupational injuries and accidents at worksites.

TDIC contractually obliges its contractors to comply with existing UAE labour laws, which do not allow for the confiscation of passports. Some companies do offer to hold workers' passports for their own security to prevent theft or loss, but a worker has the right at any time to retrieve his passport.

TDIC and its contractors are obliged to offer adequate healthcare facilities for eligible workers under the UAE law. TDIC is also committing resources to provide free health clinic and facilities for workers at Saadiyat Village. TDIC is open to working with any organisation that wishes to assist in further enhancing the development standards of workers' welfare policies and procedures.

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