As part of its efforts to provide workers with the best living environment, ZonesCorp held a safety awareness session at Al Oshoush Village in collaboration with MOL and NTPE

 

Abu Dhabi, July 8, 2010: The Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp) organized a safety awareness session in Al Oshoush Village in Al Mafraq industrial area to educate its workers on the mid day break rule and how to avoid heat stress. The session, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor (MoL) and the National Trading & Pharmaceutical Establishment (NTPE), goes in line with ZonesCorp’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy and its relentless efforts to preserve the wellbeing of workers which has been clearly reflected with the launch of modern and integrated workers residential cities (WRCs).

The awareness session, which was attended by over 1500 workers at Al Oshoush Village, one of the WRCs introduced by ZonesCorp to accommodate workers in Abu Dhabi, embodies the corporation’s support to MoL’s sustainable efforts to raise the awareness of workers throughout the UAE on their right to have a mid day break in summer according to the MoL’s rules and regulations.

ZonesCorp’s representative’s  said: “Spreading awareness among workers about the mid day break to avoid being exposed to excessive heat is part of our humanitarian commitment towards the blue collar people working in our industrial cities and living in WRCs.”  “Believing that workers are real partners in development, ZonesCorp is always adhered to ensure the safety and healthy conditions of workers by educating them on certain work issues, and by providing them with the best living environment that meets their human and social needs and consequently contribute to increasing their productivity,” he added.

Jameel Qasem, Director of Guidance Department at MoL, highlighted the significance of holding such meetings with the workers from time to time to make sure they are aware of the risks of suffering heat stress by exposing themselves directly to the sun on its peak time, and that is why the MoL was very keen to issue regulations to prevent companies from making their laborers work during mid day in summer.

“The session held in cooperation with ZonesCorp and NTPE aimed to raise safety and health awareness of the workers in accordance with MoL’s strategy and vision that focuses on activating our social responsibility principles,” said Qasem pointing out MoL’s continuous interest in protecting the rights of the manpower working in the country, as well as preserving their health by asking their companies to prevent them from working under the direct sun during midday.

On her part, Snehal Deshpande, NTPE Manager, stressed the importance for workers to have an indoor break during mid day to avoid heat stress and dehydration which would have negatively impacts on their health and performance as well.

“Excessive sweating due to heat and humidity during summer causes severe dehydration and heat exhaustion which can rapidly develop into a heat stroke and death if immediate measures are not taken,” said Deshpande.

A short animation film prepared by NTPE on heat stress symptoms and precautions was screened for workers at Al Ashoush Village before they flooded representatives of ZonesCorp, MoL and NTPE with questions about the commitment of their companies in responding to the mid day break rule. Prolyte drinks, giveaways and various brochures and posters printed in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Chinese, Malayalam, Telugu and other languages were distributed to the workers attended.

Thousands of workers who were brought to Abu Dhabi Emirate through developers and investors have to be accommodated in the workers residential cities (WRCs) developed by ZonesCorp in line with its strategy to create a safe, secure and healthy environment that provides the best living conditions for workers. These WRCs help re-organize the demographic structure of Abu Dhabi and enhance the Emirate’s position in maintaining the laws of International Labor Organization and Human Rights Watch Organization.

Each WRC includes residential buildings, restaurants, shopping centers, sports and recreational facilities, a library, training centers, parks, swimming pools, mosques, police office and a clinic.

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About ZonesCorp:

The Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp) is a government-backed entity that was established in Abu Dhabi in 2004 to enhance and develop the industrial sector. ZonesCorp is directly responsible for the establishment and management of specialized economic zones in Abu Dhabi, committing to develop the industrial infrastructure in the capital, cultivating a business climate conducive to growth and driving the diversification of the economy. The Corporation provides customer-centric services including a One-Stop Shop, a foreign labor service centre, and quality workers’ accommodation. ZonesCorp targets to leverage on an enhanced financial capability by procuring new specialized clusters through Public-Private Partnership management structures and involvement of the ZonesCorp Infrastructure Investment Fund. The current and future projects include 5 industrial cities in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, in addition to construction and building materials production city and other quality workers’ accommodation cities.

About Workers Residential Cities (WRCs):

Workers Residential Cities (WRCs) are a distinguished contemporary model of integrated complexes that are built according to international standards to accommodate workforce in a safe, secure and healthy environment that provides best living conditions for workers. The unique concept of WRCs was developed by ZonesCorp aiming to provide Blue and White Collar staff with residential facilities and services that meet their human and security needs, and consequently help increase their productivity. Through WRCs, ZonesCorp plays a vital role in the urban planning of Abu Dhabi and re-organizing the demographic structure of the Emirate. The cities also reflect the civilized and human image of Abu Dhabi and help enhance the Emirate’s position in maintaining the laws of International Labor Organization and Human Rights Watch Organization, as well as protecting the rights of residents in the country.

About National Trading & Developing Establishment (NTDE):

For more than three decades, NTDE has been the forefront of bringing world-class brands and services to the Middle East. What started as a small retail operation has grown up into a multi-million dollar business across many divisions with major international brands distributed by NTDE in the UAE.Since its founding in 1971, NTDE has been a pioneer in bringing quality brands to the Middle East. The company still remains a family concern, headed by founder and Chairman Hassan Ahmadi. NTDE today is a regional power house with more than 6,000 products distributed across the UAE, Oman and Iran.

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