Expo 2020 Dubai's organisers on Saturday disclosed that three people died from work-related injuries since building work on the site began six years ago.
The authority said it recorded 72 serious injuries on the site of what is the first world's fair in the Middle East. The expo opened to the public on Friday.
"At Expo 2020 Dubai protecting the welfare of those working to build our site is our top priority," the statement read.
"We have established world-class policies, standards and processes that protect and support the health, safety, and well-being of everyone involved in Expo 2020 Dubai.
"We are committed to the high standards we have set for ourselves and our contractors and remain firmly focused on working together to continually improve.
"We have now completed more than 247 million work hours since September 2015. Unfortunately, there have been three work-related fatalities, 72 serious injuries to date. A serious injury is classified as any injury that constitutes three days or more off work, which can range from a fractured wrist to treatment for heat stroke.
"We are not complacent. Our worker welfare assurance standards, which are bound into every contract, set down both UAE law and requirements formulated from International best practice as required by Expo 2020. Our accident frequency rate is 0.03. For comparison, the UK HSE accident frequency rate in the construction sector is 0.07."
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
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Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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