A tense atmosphere hung in the air at Living Legends at the weekend, with residents eager to see the end of a standoff between construction contractors and security staff employed by the developer.
Owners of about 200 villas there have experienced problems with gaining access to newly-built villas.
Master developer Tanmiyat Global, has since beefed up security at the complex, with close to 60 guards now on shift at any one time from two separate companies. It came after fights broke out between on-site workers from contracting company Delta Emirates and security staff.
It is also installing number plate readers from August 20 to bar access to unauthorised vehicles. It is not enough to reassure residents like Frederic Paille.
“I don’t feel safe at all,” he said.
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Fighting erupts between labourers and security officers as families blocked from homes in Dubai villa district
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“I’ve seen men climbing over walls to access the villas. We have real concerns about security.
“We don’t know what will happen, the whole resident’s committee is worried about the situation. The police have been here on many occasions.
“There was a delay getting water and electricity, and the street lighting is poor. There is construction material everywhere and the streets have not been cleaned properly.
“It is dangerous for our children, mine are 9 and 12 so they are vulnerable. I am going on vacation, so I have made arrangements for a neighbour to watch my villa whilst I’m away.”
Yasir Fareed, customer relationship manager at Tanmiyat, said the issues have put new owners in unnecessary conflict with his company, but they are doing all they can to help reassure residents.
“This harassment is happening with many of the new owners, but we are doing all we can to support them as well as we can,” he said.
“We have called the police – but the new owners were just told to lodge a complaint with the police station.
“They could see there were 300-400 labourers surrounding the villas. Then the threats against the new villa owners increased.
“One woman was surrounded by nearly 200 labourers, it was intimidating and she was panicking."
Delta Emirates said almost all of its labourers will be off-site this week.
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.
RESULTS
1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman
4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
