Labour shortage hits contractors
Contractors across the federation are struggling to meet project deadlines because of the knock-on effects of the recent clampdown on illegal immigrants.
A three-month amnesty ended at the beginning of September. During that time, 278,715 people, or about 6 per cent of the population, turned themselves in to the authorities. Some illegal immigrants were able to normalise their status and remain in the UAE, but many of those who had been employed in the construction sector had to leave the country.
'Many plant hire companies have found they no longer have enough operators, and companies that rely on casual labour are facing similar problems,' says one Abu Dhabi-based contractor. 'So we have experienced some delays.'
In the 2005 census, the federation's population was measured at 4.1 million.
Contractors across the federation are struggling to meet project deadlines because of the knock-on effects of the recent clampdown on illegal immigrants.
A three-month amnesty ended at the beginning of September. During that time, 278,715 people, or about 6 per cent of the population, turned themselves in to the authorities. Some illegal immigrants were able to normalise their status and remain in the UAE, but many of those who had been employed in the construction sector had to leave the country. 'Many plant hire companies have found they no longer have enough operators, and companies that rely on casual labour are facing similar problems,' says one Abu Dhabi-based contractor. 'So we have experienced some delays.' In the 2005 census, the federation's population was measured at 4.1 million.This content is only available to full MEED package subscribers (MEED magazine and MEED.com).
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